Sessions 2017

Sessions are now being added daily

Over the three days of the London Screenwriters’ Festival we will run over one hundred seminars, workshops and networking events for professional screenwriters. We film most sessions, so if you miss one, or two clash, you’ll be able to catch up later online. For updates about the festival, sign up below.

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A buzz from start to finish, with masses of learning and networking.

Carole Parsons, Screenwriter

Headline

Die Hard Script to Screen LIVE with Jeb Stuart

Come down to Tuke Hall… “We’ll get together, have a few laughs”… and watch the 1998 smash hit, whilst screenwriter Jeb Stuart talks us through the development and production of this Bruce Willis classic.

Pitch at the Great British Pitchfest

This is your big moment… Pitch your killer project to professional producers and top agents. Past sessions have resulted in options AND representation!

The 2017 British Screenwriters’ Awards

It’s about time someone put the originators and architects of great storytelling front and centre. And so we did! Now in our fourth year, join a roster of the BIGGEST writing names rubbing shoulders with the hottest newcomers in the UK.

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I met producers who hired me to script edit a film with the producers from Star Wars, Blade Runner and Alien. An amazing experience that would have never had without the LSF

Gareth Meredith, Screenwriter

Script To Screen

Deconstructing ‘Memento’ with Linda Aronson

Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough hit ‘Memento’ employs fractured narrative, flashback and multi protagonist storylines. Join Linda Aronson as she deconstructs the movie in real time (well with a few pauses!).

Die Hard Script to Screen LIVE with Jeb Stuart

’71 Script to Screen LIVE with Gregory Burke & Angus Lamont

Pitched as “Apocalypto in Belfast”, ’71 is an edgy, intense, character driven and remarkably authentic story. Join Writer Gregory Burke and Producer Angus Lamont as they provide a live chat track through the making of this extraordinary film.

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My mentor, Karol, has been phenomenal!

Amy Amani

Screenwriting Practical help

2B or not 2B! - Make your scripts water tight (even that tricky bit in the middle)

You plowed through act one, wrote some entertaining fun and games and then … you got stuck. Don’t worry. “Act 2B” is conquerable! You’ll leave this class with your story strengthened and some of your most pressing writing problems solved.

Actors Table Read: LIVE

How do actors and a director approach your screenplay? What happens when your words are reinterpreted through other artists? Join us for a sensational live onstage performance and deconstruction of one LSF delegate’s script.

Brainstorming Through The Block

Stopped in your tracks by where to go next with a plot point, a character, or a scene? Or maybe you feel it’s just not happening today? Pilar will show you a number of tools that will immediately and powerfully unstick your creativity so the words continue to flow.

Coen Brothers: Unlocking the Mystery of These Master Storytellers

Scott Myers digs deep into the Coen brothers movies revealing narrative dynamics you can use to craft the unique nature of your own stories. Learn from the masters in this unmissable session.

Dynamic Dialogue

Pilar Alessandra, Hollywood Script Consultant, is here to help you spice up your scripts with memorable, engaging and dynamic dialogue.

Killer Scene Descriptions: Using Screenplay Style to Express YOUR Writer’s Voice

Scott Myers debunks the mythical screenwriting ‘rules’ surrounding scene descriptions and demonstrates the ways in which successful professional writers convey their voice through screenplay style.

Manifesting Success

Following his packed to capacity sessions in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Chris Jones is back to run this highly successful and super controversial manifesting success workshop.

Meet the Producers: Impressing the Power Players

Find out what’s going to get you hired and what’s going to get you fired by the Producers you need to impress. In this session, our panel of seasoned Producers will share their stories from the trenches of writer relationships gone very very right… and very very wrong.

My Big Breakthrough... What can we learn from screenwriters who have just found success?

What can we learn from the most recently successful writers among us? Those of us who were, maybe just a year or two ago, fighting like the rest of us for the big break, to make ends meet and to start to make money from what we love.

PitchFest Bootcamp with Bob

Great American Pitchfest Guru Bob Schultz will start every day with a short 30 minute PitchFest bootcamp to get you ready for your pitch!

Saturday Morning Cinema

Meet the LondonSWF screenwriters who have taken action and acted as producers, actors or directors on their own scripts. Join them as we screen their movies and share their successes, failures and strategies… all with a view to helping you follow in their footsteps.

What will actually happen to your finished script? Live script edit

Live and dynamic script redraft, edit, slash and burn… Only for the bravest of writers!

You Had Me At Page One

Make the reader love you on the first page… So they cannot wait for the next! Learn writing techniques that help your script hit the ground running with top LA Script Consultant Pilar Alessandra.

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John Yorke's session was hugely helpful, giving me an insight into serial structures, and what commissioners are looking for - plus as I was asking him for some advice on my TV drama he requested the script

Rachel Paterson

Great British PitchFest

Hollywood Pitchfest via Skype

Pitch – face to face over Skype – with Hollywood producers and execs. Sessions are 90 minutes and you should get around 7 or 8 pitches in during that time.

The Elevator Pitch

Are you good enough to exit the elevator with the million dollar business card before the doors slide shut?

The Pitch Factor

Have you got the Pitch Factor? Live from the London Screenwriters Festival, the Pitch Factor returns with CASH prizes and our very own motley crew of judges!

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If you are serious about being a screenwriter, you have to attend the LSF.

Maurice C Kenney, Screenwriter

Screenwriting for Film and Television

Adaptations: Navigating the Minefield of existing works or 'based on' true events

Adapting a successful novel or other work seems like a logical evolution, but the process can be problematic. How do you navigate the minefield?

Film vs TV: Why not do both?

Do you consider yourself a feature writer but really want to get in to TV writing? Are you a TV aficionado and want to try your hand at writing for the big screen? Then this session is for you!

Going from 'pass' to 'YES!': Actors and the Script

What was that written moment, what was that character action or specific turn of phrase that made our panel of renowned actors pick up the phone and tell their agent, ‘I’m In!’

Holding Space for Your Vision

Unleash the creativity already present. Discover that your own work is already deeper than you ever imagined and that you have unimaginable access to creative capabilities that you only suspected.

Pixar: The Secrets Of Their Storytelling Craft

Discover the seven narrative dynamics evident in Pixar movies. Scott will illustrate how Pixar filmmakers use these narrative ‘secrets’ and you can learn how you can adopt them when crafting your own stories.

The A-Z of Storytelling

Drawing inspiration from the great story tellers of the world, Producer and Director of the world famous NFTS, Nik Powell examines storytelling from the point of view of the producer not as is usual from the point of view of the writer or director.

The BIG Vision: How To Attract Prolific Producers To YOUR Screenplay

Three of the UK’s most prolific and trail blazing producers will come together in this unique session to share their big visions, their rich perspectives and looking forward to answer the question, “What’s next?”.

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I got my script requested by Film4 at the PitchFest!

Jane Evans, Screenwriter

In conversation

Doing Crime: In Conversation with Jed Mercurio

Join the King of Crime Writing Jed Mercurio, for a session with one of the industry’s most successful writers talking about one of the industry’s most beloved crime dramas.

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The Table Read was one of the most productive hours I have EVER spent on a script

John Handscombe, Writer, @JohnHandscombe

Screenwriters Talent Fast-track

Get legal advice in our legal clinic at the festival

We all have concerns about our screenplays and career, but often can’t afford a specialist lawyer. At the festival you can get that face time you need, with a media lawyer.

Meet The Experts

A panel of leading film industry professionals provide confidential one-on-one advice to move your project onto the next stage.

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I’m currently rewriting a few scenes of my script in order to avoid possible legal issues flagged up in the legal clinic.

Bruno Catarino, Screenwriter

Beyond the workshop

Get Your Script Performed

Have scenes from your script read, performed and workshopped by professional actors and directors.

Script Chat

Get intimate face-to-face time in our hugely popular Script Chat roundtable sessions. Ask our speakers the questions you want answered.

Script To Screen

Read the script, watch the film or TV show, then meet the writers, filmmakers and producers at the festival.

Speed Networking – Fun, Fast and EFFECTIVE

Meet 30 new writers, producers and directors in our 90 minute speed networking event. Fast, FUN and designed to create powerful new relationships.

The Writers Room

Join five other writers and a seasoned showrunner for a whole day on Thursday (the 1st September) to write a show for a long running TV series. Welcome to the pressure cooker that is the ‘Writers Room’ at LondonSWF.

We will read your script: The Script Surgery

Need a professional to read your screenplay? Get one-on-one feedback on your script with Euroscript.

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LSF makes you step out of your comfort zone and experience the fear that will make you free

Richard Paul Wheildon, Screenwriter

Writers Rooms

Writers Room 1: TBA

Six writers, one showrunner and one day to write a show… Headed up by Barbara Machin.

Writers Room 2: TBA

Six writers, one showrunner and one day to write a show… This writers room will be announced soon.

Writers Room 3: TBA

Six writers, one showrunner and one day to write a show… This writers room will be announced soon.

Writers Room 4: TBA

Six writers, one showrunner and one day to write a show… This writers room will be announced soon.

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I'm still buzzing my socks off about the lab... what a tremendous experience!

Michelle Lindsay, Screenwriter

Script Labs

Script Lab 1: Writing ACTION features with 'Die Hard' Screenwriter Jeb Stuart

Do you love action? Do you dream of explosions, gun fights, and car chases with huge stars trying to kill each other? Do you have a completed action feature script you need to take to the next level? Then this lab is for you!

Script Lab 2: Creating TV Drama Series with top script consultant Philip Shelley

Do you love television? Do you have the next returning hit TV drama series in your portfolio? Then we want to hear from you.

Script Lab 3: Character Based Screenwriting with ‘K-9’ Screenwriter Scott Myers

Successful applicants will join Scott at the Festival for this intensive lab and through workshopping take their writing to the next level.

Script Lab 4: TBA

Three hours, one world class mentor and six writers. This lab is yet to be confirmed. Please check back soon.

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I managed to get 7 execs to take my one-pager, several of who were really excited about my new feature!

Cera Rose Pickering, Screenwriter/Actress

Open and Close

Festival Opening

Get fully prepped to get the most from the festival in this kick ass opening that will frame your three day roller coaster. NOT TO BE MISSED!

LondonSWF Close

NOTE THIS SESSION BEGINS AT 6.15pm SHARP AND IS JUST 15 MINS LONG. Join the team for the FABULOUS close of the festival and our promise for the next year ahead.

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A whirlwind where for three days, the outside world simply ceased to be

Emmanuel Casey, Writer

Social Connection

Networking Drinks In The Marquee Bar

Don’t be shy – grab a beer and break out those business cards!

Unofficial Post Festival Drinks At The Globe

Unofficial Post Festival Drinks At The Globe Pub on Baker Street

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It was my first time this year and I will definitely be returning next year

Amy Culwick, Screenwriter

Festival Week: Additional One Day Masterclasses

Christopher Vogler's Hero's Journey 2017

Veteran Hollywood story consultant and studio executive Christopher Vogler brings his game changing seminar to the London Screenwriters’ Festival.

Pitching Thursday (Evening): LondonSWF Festival Week Evening Workshop (Sept 14th 2017)

Don’t fall at the first hurdle. Prepare for an extraordinary PitchFest at the LSF by joining Hollywood pitch guru Pilar Alessandra who will transform your pitch so you can present professionally and with confidence.

Write a film that the market WANTS with Samantha Horley (Sept 13th 2017)

Give yourself a better chance of getting your film made, picked up and seen in this OUTSTANDING one day workshop with Producer and Screenwriter Samantha Horley.

Networking Tuesday, work the room with confidence: Day 1 of LondonSWF Festival Week

Talent is great but relationships get you hired. The ability to create powerful new relationships in any given situation is one of the primary factors in the success of your career and that of any screenplay that you write. A one day masterclass.

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Absolute value for money. Plan what you're going to attend in advance and go for it.

Sarah Turner, Screenwriter

Additional Courses, Workshops and Masterclasses

Writing TV with Pilar Alessandra (March 24th - 25th 2018)

I really enjoyed the PitchFest and meeting writers face to face

Rebecca Long, Financier and Producer