Speakers 2020

Speakers are now appearing on this page and are being added daily.

The London Screenwriters’ Festival features around 100 professional speakers from all areas of the film and television business. Many have also agreed to intimate Script Chat sessions after their respective events so that you can get face time with them. New speakers are being added periodically but the vast majority will be confirmed late spring / early summer 2020. Get updates by signing up below.

“

It was a wonderful creative bubble to live in for a few days: challenging, informative, inspiring and fun. What more could I want?"

Janet Awe, Screenwriter

Headliners

Randall Wallace – Writer, Producer, Director

Credits include: Braveheart, The Man in the Iron Mask, We Were Soldiers, Pearl Harbor

Oscar®-nominated Randall is behind some of the most successful films in cinematic history.

Scott Myers – Screenwriter, Producer, Educator

Credits include: K-9 with Jim Belushi and Trojan War with Jennifer Love Hewitt

Scott is head honcho and scribe at Go Into The Story, official screenwriting blog for the Black List.

“

Dave Reynold’s Script Lab was a career highlight for me. He threw himself into my screenplay and built on it with ideas and advice only someone of his experience could offer."

Nathan Russell-Raby, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

Barbara Machin – Screenwriter, Showrunner

Credits include: Waking The Dead, The Bill

Barbara Machin is the BAFTA and EMMY award-winning screenwriter who created BBC One’s worldwide-selling hit series Waking The Dead.

Stuart Hazeldine – Screenwriter

Stuart's credits include The Shack, Exam, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Knowing with Nicholas Cage.

Tony Jordan – Screenwriter, Producer

Credits include: Hustle, Life On Mars, Holby Blue, Death in Paradise

Tony has created and written for some of the most iconic and successful British TV series, including Life on Mars and EastEnders.

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.

Daniel Maier – Comedy & Narrative Screenwriter

Daniel Maier has been a regular writer on Harry Hill's TV Burp and co-wrote A Touch of Cloth with Charlie Brooker for Sky 1.

Debbie Horsfield – Screenwriter

Credits include: Poldark; Sex, Chips & Rock 'n Roll; All The Small Things

Debbie is responsible for the BBC smash hit Poldark and is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright.

Dominic Morgan – Screenwriter

Credits include: Hard Target 2, An Act of Defiance

Dominic has written for 30+ studios and production companies, including Universal Studios, Working Title, Scott Free and the BBC.

Helen Black – Screenwriter

Credits include: Clink, Gimme Shelter

Lawyer turned novelist turned award-winning screenwriter, Helen has original projects in development with BBC Studios, Endor Productions and Snowed In.

Henry Fitzherbert – Screenwriter

Credits include: Slaughterhouse Rulez, Born a King

Co-writer of Slaughterhouse Rulez starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Michael Sheen and writer of hitorical epic Born a King.

Jeff Pope – Screenwriter, Producer

Credits include: Stan & Ollie; Philomena; Dirty, Filthy Love; A Confession

Jeff Pope is an Oscar® and Golden Globe-winning British film and TV writer and producer, known for his scripts for Philomena and Stan & Ollie.

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.

Lisa McMullin – Screenwriter

Credits include: EastEnders, Doctors

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

Marnie Dickens – Screenwriter

Credits include: Thirteen, Gold Digger

Marnie is the creator and writer of drama Thirteen that aired on BBC Three iPlayer, BBC Two and BBC America, starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve). Her latest original drama series is Gold Digger.

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.

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.

“

What you have done for the delegates was beyond what any other festival of its kind does."

James Hughes, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Mellie Buse – Screenwriter, Producer

Credits include: Grandpa In My Pocket

Mellie has written on many popular children’s shows including Grandpa In My Pocket (awarded the 2010 Welsh BAFTA for Best Children’s Programme) and runs Adastra Creative Ltd.

Julian Friedmann – Film, TV and Literary Agent

Agent and great supporter of emerging talent

Julian has years of experience as a literary agent and was the founder of ScriptWriter magazine.

Gub Neal – Producer

Credits include: Prime Suspect, Queer As Folk, Cracker, The Fall

Gub is an award-winning producer who headed up the drama departments at both Channel 4 and Granada, and won an Emmy for Prime Suspect.

Catherine Williams – Screenwriter

Credits include: New Teletubbies, Topsy and Tim, Waffle the Wonder Dog, Chip and Potato

Catherine has over 15 years' experience as series co-creator, writer, head writer and script editor on many Bafta-winning kids' shows.

Jane Steventon – Development Executive, Producer

Credits include: Tracy Beaker, Casualty, Susan Hill's Ghost Story

Jane has worked in adult and children's scripted drama at Disney, CBBC, BBC and Lime Pictures.

Joanna Strevens – Executive Producer, Carnival Films

Credits include: The Tunnel, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

Jo began as a BBC Script Editor and went on to develop drama for Hat Trick, Kudos and Carnival.

John Yorke – MD, Angel Station

Credits include: Wolf Hall, Shameless, Life On Mars, EastEnders

John is author of Into the Woods and a drama producer, consultant and lecturer on all forms of storytelling. He also executive produced Wolf Hall.

Paul Gilbert – Commissioning Executive, Sky Drama

Credits include: Bulletproof, Tin Star, Humans

Paul execs a range of shows such as Bulletproof, Tin Star, Strike Back and new Sky One sci-fi series Intergalactic starring Savannah Steyn (The Tunnel).

Samantha Horley – Writer, Script Consultant, Lecturer

Credits include: Executive Producer on Grabbers, Miss You Already

Sam has 20 years' experience in international film sales, development, production and marketing.

Steve November – MD, Further South Productions

Credits include: Coronation Street, Emmerdale

Steve has experience developing drama on acclaimed shows such as Downton Abbey, Broadchurch and The Durrells.

“

To be all schmaltzy about it, ‘it feels like coming home’."

Charlotte Thompson, Screenwriter

Directors

Jonathan Newman – Writer, Director

Credits include: The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box, Foster

Jonathan Newman recently directed the $25m movie The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box.

Anthony Byrne – Director

Credits include: Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street, Mr Selfridge

Anthony has directed many high-end dramas and the latest Peaky Blinders. He recently directed music videos for Hozier and Liam Gallagher.

John Stevenson – Director

Credits include: Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar

John has over 40 years' experience in film development, earning an Academy Award nomination as director on Kung Fu Panda.

“

I’ve felt like royalty being part of Talent Campus and gained amazing friends along the way."

Sarah Cassidy, Screenwriter, Talent Camper

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.

Hayley McKenzie – Script Angel | Founder & CEO

Script Angel’s team of BAFTA-winning script editors help writers to elevate their scripts, develop their voice and advance their screenwriting career.

Ellin Stein – Script Editor, Educator

Author of That's Not Funny, That's Sick

Ellin teaches screenwriting on the MA Script Writing programme at Goldsmiths and has worked in development for numerous production companies in the US and UK.

Dr Raj Persaud – Consultant Psychiatrist, Broadcaster and Author

Credits include: Staying Sane: How To Make Your Mind Work For You

Eminent psychiatrist Dr Raj offers fascinating insights into the mechanics of characters.

Chris Jones – Filmmaker, Author

Credits include: Oscar-shortlisted Gone Fishing, the Guerilla Handbooks and a bunch of feature films

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

David Baboulene, PhD – Narrative Theorist, Story Consultant

Credits include: Story Theory

David's research into narrative theory has demonstrated how the power of every story lies in the way it resonates with the human mind.

David Pope – Script Consultant, Screenwriter

David has delivered script consultancy services for projects all over the world, including films that have been candidates for Academy Awards.

Joey Tuccio – Roadmap Writers | CEO

Roadmap Writers aims to bridge the gap between fresh, talented voices and the industry execs who can make things happen.

Karol Griffiths – Script Editor, Supervisor

Credits include: How I Met Your Mother, Friends; Author of The Art of Script Editing

Karol Griffiths is a successful script editor, best-selling author and development consultant with over twenty years' experience in film and TV.

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.

Michael Brooks, PhD – TV Consultant, Author, Quantum Physicist

Co-Author of Hollywood Wants to Kill You: The Peculiar Science of Death in the Movies

Michael's latest broadcast role is as science adviser to YouTube’s The Edge of Science.

Nic Ransome – Script Editor, Screenwriter

Credits include: Holby City, Shrooms

Nic has written for Holby City and Freefonix and has developed TV for Silver Pictures Television, Starz, Artists Studio and Bentley Productions.

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.

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.

Rick Edwards – Screenwriter, Presenter, Author

Co-Author of Hollywood Wants to Kill You: The Peculiar Science of Death in the Movies

Rick has written three books, and his debut feature film script is due to start shooting in March 2020.

Shelly Mellot – Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Final Draft

Shelly manages the professional and educational sales divisions, develops initiatives that drive sales across all retail channels, and manages marketing, events and customer relations at Final Draft.

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.

“

A production company I pitched to were interested in my idea for an adapted screenplay. I negotiated an option for the film rights with the publisher and am about to submit my draft!"

Louise Vale, Screenwriter

Moderators

Thank you for an amazing, informative, and the most memorable LondonSWF yet!"

Speakers are now appearing on this page and are being added daily.

Janet Awe, Screenwriter

Headliners

Nathan Russell-Raby, Screenwriter

Screenwriters

James Hughes, Screenwriter

People Who Get Stuff Made

Charlotte Thompson, Screenwriter

Directors

Sarah Cassidy, Screenwriter, Talent Camper

People Who Know Stuff

Louise Vale, Screenwriter

Moderators

Jean Maye, Screenwriter

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Eivor Bekkhus, Screenwriter

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