Speakers | London Screenwriters' Festival

LondonSWF 2021 (September) Update
Due to Covid uncertainty, we will be running a hybrid festival in 2021, with a three-day live event* and online sessions spread over a longer period of time. Things could change rapidly so keep an eye on our updates HERE. In person delegates will require daily flow tests and vaccine status declaration.

We are assembling the GREATEST roster of screenwriting speakers ever for our TENTH anniversary!

The London Screenwriters’ Festival will host around 130 professional speakers from all areas of the film and television business. Many have also agreed to intimate online Script Chats (subject to technology) after their respective sessions so that you can get facetime with them. Although speakers are being added continuously, the vast majority will be confirmed in the summer of 2021. Get updates by signing up below.

“

LondonSWF 2018 was the best experience I ever had. It facilitated a space in which I could grow, develop new connections and get inspired to move on."

Wojciech Filaber, Screenwriter

Headliners

Linda Aronson – Practitioner, Screenwriter

Author of: The 21st-Century Screenplay

Linda Aronson returns to dazzle LSF delegates with her game changing explanations of how to construct non-linear and multiple storyline films.

Dara Marks – Script consultant, seminar leader, and author

Author of Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc

Dara has nearly 30 years of script consultation experience in Hollywood.

William Nicholson – Screenwriter & Novelist

Credits include: Gladiator, Les Miserables, Mandela: Long Road To Freedom

Twice Oscar nominated William Nicholson is a British screenwriter, playwright, and novelist.

David Reynolds – Screenwriter

Disney and Pixar writer David Reynolds credits include; Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2 & 3 and The Emperor's New Groove.

Diane Drake – Screenwriter and Story Consultant

Her first produced original script, ONLY YOU, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei, sold for $1m, while her next, WHAT WOMEN WANT, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, is the second highest grossing rom/com of all time.

Pilar Alessandra – Script Consultant, Educator

Author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter

Pilar's students and clients have written for Lost, Prison Break, Nip Tuck, House of Lies, CSI and Family Guy.

“

Thanks to you and your team for the most amazing four days at the Screenwriters’ Festival; I have come away buzzing and have already bought my ticket for next year!"

Liz Mente-Bishop, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

Damon Rochefort – Screenwriter

Credits include: Coronation Street, Birds Of A Feather

Damon is a TV creator, producer and writer with a wealth of experience and credits to his name.

Andy Briggs – Screenwriter

He wrote on Judge Dredd, Freddy Vs Jason and Aquaman and has worked with Stan Lee, Robert Evans, Warner Bros. and Disney XD.

Rowan Joffe – Writer

Writer and director for film and television

Phil Ford – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Sarah Jane Adventures, Dr Who, Torchwood

Award winner Phil has written hundreds of hours of classic TV including The Sarah Jane Adventures, Dr Who and Torchwood.

Tim Bain – Screenwriter

Credits include: Dennis & Gnasher, Numtums

Tim has written hundreds of episodes for some of the world's most beloved children's shows.

Aschlin Ditta – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Catherine Tate Show, Little Heart

Aschlin is an award winning Screenwriter who's latest feature, 'Swimming With Men' starring Rob Brydon was released this summer.

Clive Frayne – Screenwriter, Script Editor, Author

Author of The Process of Screenwriting

Clive Frayne is an award-winning writer and filmmaker with thirty years' experience writing professionally.

Henry Fitzherbert – Screenwriter

Credits include Slaughterhouse Rulez, Born a King

Henry co-wrote Slaughterhouse Rulez starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Michael Sheen and penned the historical epic Born a King.

Howard A. Rodman – Writers Guild of America, West | President

Credits include: August, Savage Grace

Howard A. Rodman is a Screenwriter, Novelist, Educator and President of the Writers Guild of America, West.

James Wood – Screenwriter

Credits include: Rev, The Gamechangers

James Wood is the Bafta wining writer and creator of Freezing, Rev, Ambassadors and The Gamechangers.

Jessica Ruston – Screenwriter

Credits include Harlots, Young Wallander

Jessica is developing both original and adaptation projects with companies such as Dancing Ledge, Monumental Television, Big Light, and 42 UK/US for both terrestial broadcast and streaming.

Joe Ainsworth – Screenwriter

Credits include: Brookside, Holby City and New Tricks.

BAFTA winner Joe is a veteran of recurring drama, writing for some of the most popular series on TV.

John Dorney – Writer

Credits include: Doctor Who, The Avengers, Survivors

John’s scripts have been produced on stage, radio and as audiobooks and he has won multiple international awards.

Jon Croker – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death

Jon’s produced credits include The Woman in Black: Angel of Death, the production draft of Paddington, Desert Dancer, Fast Girls and In Fear.

Jon Gilbert – Screenwriter, Script Consultant

Credits include The Zigzag Kid

Jon is a screenwriter and script consultant with over fifteen years’ experience working in the UK and US film industries.

Jonathan Ruffle – Writer & Producer

Credits include: Tommies, Never Mind The Buzzcocks

Jonathan created, writes and produces the a four-and-a-half year real-time drama - Tommies which airs on BBC Radio this autumn.

Joseph Lidster – Screenwriter

Credits include: Torchwood, Wizards Vs. Aliens

Joseph has written scripts for radio and television, including episodes of Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Wizards Vs Aliens and Hetty Feather.

Kat Wood – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Home, Arthur & Merlin

Kat’s directorial debut, the short film 'Home' starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, makes her the first ever UK winner of the Jameson First Shot Competition.

Lisa McMullin – Screenwriter

Credits include EastEnders, Doctors

Lisa writes continuing drama series for television and also writes Big Finish audio dramas, including Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Time War.

Lucinda Coxon – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Danish Girl, The Crimson Petal and the White

Lucinda is an award-winning writer for film, television, and stage.

Marcy Kahan – Screenwriter & Playwright

Credits include: War and Peace, The Wizard of Oz, Antonia & Jane

Marcy Kahan is an award-winning radio and theatre playwright and screenwriter.

Matthew Costello – Screenwriter & Novelist

Matt has written and designed dozens of award-winning and best-selling games including The 7th Guest, Doom 3 and Rage.

Michal Aviram – Screenwriter

Credits include Fauda, Project Orpheus

Michal Aviram is an award-winning Israeli screenwriter. She has created and written on hit shows for numerous platforms, including Netflix, Amazon and Israeli broadcaster, Keshet.

Neil Richards – Sceenwriter & Novelist

Credits include: Starship Titanic, Just Cause, The da Vince Code

Neil is a writer in TV, games, interactive and more recently novels.

Pat Higgins – Writer, Director

Credits include TrashHouse, Hellbride, KillerKiller

After writing and directing three internationally distributed micro-budget horrors, Pat wrote the award-winning mockumentary, The Devil’s Music.

Paul Kerensa – Screenwriter & Comedian

Writer for BBC1’s Miranda and Not Going Out, among countless others, Paul Kerensa’s the in-demand comic who plays comedy clubs and cathedrals.

Philip Lawrence – Screenwriter

Credits include EastEnders, Casualty

Philip was awarded the C21 Drama Script Prize with his black comedy drama Euthanasia in Suburbia and currently writes for EastEnders and Casualty.

Richard Kurti – Screenwriter

Credits include: Wolfblood, Primeval

Richard and his writing partner Bev Doyle broke into the business by writing and selling a spec script, Newton's Law, which led to 14 further movie commissions.

Sally Abbott – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Coroner, EastEnders, Casualty

Sally has created and written three episodes of new BBC1 Drama The Coroner as well as Casualty, Eastenders, Holby City and Doctors.

Steve Stamp – Screenwriter & Actor

Credits include: People Just Do Nothing

Steve is the Co-Writer and Creator of People Just Do Nothing, a BBC Three mockumentary about West London pirate radio station Kurupt FM.

“

The kick up the arse in terms of inspiration, and the new network I am a part of is invaluable. Just stop reading and invest in your skillset right now."

David Sobell, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Ned Dowd – Producer

Apocalypto, King Arthur, Ondine, Shanghai Noon and Last Of The Mohicans

Apocalypto, King Arthur, Shanghai Noon and Last Of The Mohicans are a handful of films on Ned's resume - it reads more like our movie collection!

Julian Friedmann – Film, TV & Literary Agent

Staunch supporter of emerging talent

Julian has years of experience as a literary agent. He is also the founder of ScriptWriter magazine and author of How To Make Money Scriptwriting.

Jeremy Howe – Drama Commissioning Editor | Radio 4

Credits include: The Archers, Bloomsday

Jeremy is responsible for commissioning over 300 titles a year for Radio 4.

Ceri Meyrick – Executive Producer and Head of Development | BBC Studios

She has trained many writers who have gone on to secure jobs within the industry and has worked on Ballykissangel.

Charlotte Knight – Agent

Charlotte is MD of The Knight Hall Agency in London.

Jane Hudson – Head of Drama Series and a Commissioner | ITV

Click through to Jane's bio page to see what she's looking for at the Pitchfest.

Julia McKenzie – Head of BBC Radio Comedy

Credits include: The Jason Byrne Show, French & Saunders

Julia produces comedies for Radio 2.

“

It is great to be surrounded by so many other brilliant and talented writers – all there to share, network, pitch, vent, learn, listen and just have a great time!"

Clara Emanuel, Writer, Actor

Directors

Debbie Isitt – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Confetti, Nativity 1, 2 & 3

Debbie's unique improvisational methods have attracted the cream of UK comedy to her projects including Martin Freeman, Alan Carr, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan and David Tennant.

John Maclean – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Slow West, Pitch Black Heist

John’s debut feature 'Slow West' was released in 2015 and won multiple awards including one at Sundance.

Keri Collins – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Convenience, Funday

Keri Collins is a Welsh BAFTA winning writer/director for film and television.

Marcus Markou – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Papadopoulos & Sons

DIY filmmaker Marcus wrote, directed, financed, produced and self distributed indie favourite Papadopoulos & Sons.

“

A wonderful, warm gathering of the screenwriting tribe, full of insight, energy and inspiration."

Andrew Pennington, Screenwriter

Actors

Celyn Jones – Screenwriter & Actor

Credits include: I'm Jack, A Poet In New York

Celyn is a critically acclaimed actor and writer who The Times referred to as “the powerhouse writer-performer behind the greatest Dylan Thomas biopic yet”.

Mark Arnold – Actor

Credits include: Teen Wolf, Blade Runner 2049

Since making his mark in 80's cult classic Teen Wolf, Mark has appeared in films such as Florence Foster Jenkins, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Blade Runner 2049.

Rebecca Root – Actor

Credits incude: Boy Meets Girl, The Danish Girl

Rebecca is best known for playing Judy in BBC Two’s ground-breaking comedy series 'Boy Meets Girl'.

“

The festival is a kick up the ass to be more productive, to keep writing when life gets in the way // 5 Stars"

Colm Ryan, Screenwriter

People Who Know Stuff

Lucy V Hay – Script Editor | Bang2write

Bionic blogger, script editor, author and the voice of new writers!

Lucy is legendary for her enthusiasm and the knowledge she shares with her Bang2Write community and is a core member of the LSF team.

Chris Jones – LSF Director & Founder, Filmmaker, Author

Credits include the Oscar®-shortlisted Gone Fishing; author of the Guerilla Handbooks

Chris has spent his life making movies, writing books and helping others make their movies.

Bob Schultz – Writer, Producer, Professor, Instructor

Credits include Below Zero, Hitlersaurus!

Writer, producer, screenwriting professor and co-founder of ScriptFest.

Jean Kitson – Agent, Kitson Press Associates

Founder: Kitson Press Associates

Jean Kitson is an agent representing film, TV, theatre and radio writers and particular interest in both mainstream drama and children's media.

Houston Howard – Co-Founder of One 3 Creative, Producer, author

You're Gonna Need A Bigger Story, You're Gonna Need A Bigger Workbook

Viewing story through a transmedia lens, a thought leader and creator of the SUPER STORY method.

Kira-Anne Pelican, PhD – Writer, Researcher, Script Consultant

Author of The Science of Writing Characters (available soon from Bloomsbury)

Kira-Anne has 25 years of experience working in the British and American film and TV industries.

Lee Jessup – Career Coach

Credits include: Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide To A Screenwriting Career

Lee is a career coach for screenwriters, with an exclusive focus on the screenwriter's professional development.

May Gibson – Producer & Script Development Executive

Credits include: The Musketeers, Wolfblood

May has worked on the development and production of many television drama, comedy and children’s programmes for the UK and the US.

Patti Good – Therapist, Teacher, Healer and Spiritual Mentor

Meditation Teacher, Doula, Hypnobirthing Practitioner and Reiki Master

Meditation Teacher, Accredited Journey Practitioner, a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, an EFT Practitioner,

Philip Hughes – Screenwriter, Educator

Writing credits include Thunderpants, I Want Candy, The Queen's Nose

Phil is Course Leader for BA(Hons) Film & Screen degree at Regent’s University, London and is an experienced script editor for film and TV.

Roxanne Harvey – Producer

Credits include: Casualty, The Bill, Bad Girls

Roxanne works as a story producer for Snowed In Productions and worked on the adaptation of the latest installment of "Strike".

Sean Robert Daniels – Nicholl Fellow-winning Screenwriter

Killers, The Docket, The Last Victims

Screenwriter, head writer, script editor, story consultant, and 1st South African to win the Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting

Steve Kaplan – Comedy Expert

The entertainment industry’s leading expert, with clients such as HBO, Dreamworks, Disney, Paramount, and Touchstone

Ted Wilkes – Screenwriter, Educator

Co-author of The Beginning, The Middle & The End (available soon)

Ted teaches Screenwriting and Digital Media at Regent's University and is currently developing a TV series with producer Nick Agha.

“

I didn’t think that LSF could get any better, but my expectations were blown completely out of the water this year."

Alli Parker, Filmmaker, @alli-and-that

Moderators

“

A great variety of perspectives from Hollywood legends to contemporaries, both industry and craft. Helped me turn my long-grounded script on its head, firing me with enthusiasm!"

We are assembling the GREATEST roster of screenwriting speakers ever for our TENTH anniversary!

Wojciech Filaber, Screenwriter

Headliners

Liz Mente-Bishop, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

David Sobell, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Clara Emanuel, Writer, Actor

Directors

Andrew Pennington, Screenwriter

Actors

Colm Ryan, Screenwriter

People Who Know Stuff

Alli Parker, Filmmaker, @alli-and-that

Moderators

Giles Sparrow, Writer, @gswrites

72% LSF'2021 passes now sold

Twitter

On the Blog

Other Events

Jane Evans, Screenwriter

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