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.

“

The LondonSWF has massively awakened the fire in my belly that was starting to fade. I'm overwhelmed by the number of dedicated, wonderful human beings I've made connections with."

Alex Davies, 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.

J. Michael Straczynski – Screenwriter, Producer, Director

J. Michael Straczynski is an American television and film screenwriter, producer and director, and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS.

Joey Tuccio – CEO | Roadmap Writers

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

Mike Medavoy – Producer, CEO of Phoenix Pictures

His credits include U-Turn, Zodiac, Shutter Island, Black Swan, Altered Carbon, and many many more.

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.

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.

“

We are now part of a supportive community of people who are all passionate about telling stories and getting them on-screen."

Ellen Pruyne

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.

Tom Williams – Screenwriter

Credits include: Kajaki, Chalet Girl

Tom's most recent feature the critically acclaimed Kajaki was selected for TIFF and received a BAFTA nomination for 'Outstanding Debut' for it's Director and Producer.

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.

Jed Mercurio – Screenwriter

Credits include: Line Of Duty, Cardiac Arrest

Jed's most recent credit, 'Line of Duty', is the most watched BBC2 drama series in the multichannel era.

Tim Bain – Screenwriter

Credits include: PJ Masks, Fireman Sam

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

Aimée Kwan – Writer, Director and Actress

Aimée Kwan is a British-Thai writer, director and actress who loves global storylines and voices yet unheard.

Alexis Kirke – Screenwriter, Technologist

Alexis Kirke is a screenwriter and technologist who has been innovating in the field of film and Artificial Intelligence for the last decade.

Amanda Graham – Screenwriter and Trainer

Selected as one of the BFI x Bafta Crew 2021, one of Edinburgh TV Festival’s Ones to Watch 2018-2019, member of WGGB, and….apocalyptic cult church survivor, Amanda Graham is a comedy scriptwriter with a strong point of view.

Aschlin Ditta – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Catherine Tate Show, Little Heart

Aschlin is an award-winning Screenwriter known for 'Swimming With Men' starring Rob Brydon and his various collaborations with Catherine Tate

Clive Frayne – Screenwriter, Development Consultant and Author

Author of The Process of Screenwriting

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

Dan Berlinka – Writer, Director and Producer

DAN BERLINKA is a BAFTA-winning writer, director and producer. Most recently Dan was the creator and head writer of the CBBC comedy LAGGING.

Dominic Morgan – Screenwriter

Credits include Hard Target 2, An Act of Defiance

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

Dui Jarrod – Screenwriter, Director and Playwright

Dui Jarrod is a Day-time Emmy nominated & award-winning screenwriter, director, and playwright residing in Brooklyn, NY best known for BROOKLYN. BLUE. SKY.

George Kay – Executive Producer, Writer

Credit include: Lupin, Killing Eve, Criminal UK, The Tunnel, The Hour

A writer on the cutting edge of thrilling crime television, writing on Killing Eve, and creating Criminal, on Netflix worldwide

Glenn Gers – Screenwriter

Glenn Gers has been a professional screen-and-television writer for 25 years.

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.

Jeff Kitchen – Screenwriter

Author of the bestselling book, Writing a Great Movie, Jeff has taught thousands of writers from Broadway to Hollywood.

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.

Joe Wielosinski – Screenwriter, Teacher

Joe Wielosinski is an award-winning screenwriter and teacher.

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.

Lucinda Whiteley – Screenwriter, Producer & Co-founder | Novel Entertainment

Credits include: Horrid Henry, Fimbles, Maisy

Writer and Producer of over 700 TV programmes, Lucinda is co-founder and Creative Director of Novel Entertainment.

Marcy Kahan – Screenwriter & Playwright

Credits include: Design For Murder; Blithe Spy; A Bullet At Balmain’s.

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

Mark Sanderson – Screenwriter, Script Consultant, Author, Blogger, and Lecturer

Author of: A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics to Survive as a Working Screenwriter in Hollywood

Mark Sanderson is a screenwriter, script consultant, author, blogger, and lecturer blessed to be living his childhood dream of making movies with screenplays written in a wide range of genres.

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.

Robbie Sunderland – Writer

Robbie is a sketch, sitcom and topical joke writer who has written for The Comedy Geek Sketch Podcast, The Wireless Show, Sketch Please!

Sally Abbott – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Coroner, Vera, Death in Paradise, Eastenders and Frantic Assembly

Sally has created the BBC1 Drama The Coroner.

Simon Cox – Writer, Director

Simon has worked in the TV and film industry for over 30 years and has directed and edited numerous shows for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Simon Nye – Screenwriter

Credits include: Men Behaving Badly, Reggie Perrin and The Durrells

Simon was a translator before starting his writing career as a novelist, adapting his two novels 'Men Behaving Badly' and 'Wideboy' into TV series.

Thandi Lubimbi – Screenwriter

Alongside her legal career, Thandi started writing drama, fantasy and sci-fi scripts.

Tom Basden – Screenwriter & Actor

Credits include: Plebs, Peep Show, Gap year

Tom is co-creator and co-writer of 'Plebs' and has written for some of the best comedy shows.

“

This is the most intense meeting of the teachers and learners. The access to top-line teaching talent is unprecedented."

Jonah Jones, 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.

Alexei Slater – Filmmaker - Turn The Slate Productions

Alexei has several projects in development. This year he is looking to advise writers on making the step into short films of all types, writing for shorts, assembling a team and tackling festivals and distribution.

Carrie Courogen – Associate Director of Creative Development | Condé Nast

Carrie Courogen is an associate director of creative development at Condé Nast, where she works across the digital entertainment portfolios of Pitchfork, Vanity Fair, Tatler, Teen Vogue, and Vanity Fair.

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 children’s shows.

Charlotte Knight – Agent

Charlotte is MD of The Knight Hall Agency in London.

Gary W. Goldstein – Producer

Credits include: Pretty Woman, Under Siege, The Mothman Prophecies, and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle o

An award-winning film producer, Gary Goldstein has produced some of Hollywood’s biggest box-office hits, including Pretty Woman, Under Siege, The Mothman Prophecies, and cult fan favorite Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.

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.

Michael Brandt – Screenwriter

Michael Brandt is the co-creator of “Chicago Fire” along with its subsequent spinoffs “Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and Chicago Justice.”

Stewart Le Marechal – Producer | MetFilm

Stewart is open to hearing most ideas although less keen on straight horror. Looking for both Film and TV.

“

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

Rachel Paterson, Screenwriter

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.

Jim Agnew – Director, Writer and Producer

Jim Agnew is a director, writer and producer, known for The Capture (2017), Rage (2014) and Game of Death (2011).

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.

Oliver Parker – Director

Credits include: The Private Life of Samuel Pepys, Dad’s Army, Johnny English Reborn, Dorian Gray

His first feature came in 1995 with own adaptation Othello starring Laurence Fishburne and Kenneth Branagh. He also directed Othello, An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest.

“

The LSF is simply the best event of its kind."

John Yorke, Former Head Ch4 Drama/BBC Drama

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'.

“

One of the best weeks of my life."

Monique Amado, Writer

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.

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.

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.

Stephen Follows – Writer and producer

Credits include: Baseline, Sign Language

Stephen Follows is an award-winning writer and producer.

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.

Adele Anderson – Personal Fitness Trainer and Screenwriter

After several years of working in the fitness industry while trying to learn how to write a great TV pilot, Adele took an unexpected pivot: writing an experimental audio drama that combined storytelling and exercise.

Caroline Ferguson – Writer and Mindset Trainer

She's developed a set of powerful mindset tools to help writers ditch self-sabotage and achieve more consistent creative flow.

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.

Fenella Greenfield – Writer, Consultant and mounding Member of Euroscript

Expert in All Things Treatment, and a successful writer/director in her own right.

Harriet Bratt – International Speaker, Trainer

Harriet Bratt is an international speaker, trainer, fire walk instructor and WARRIOR. Her mission is to empower people globally to Unleash their Warrior within... and Master their Life.

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.

Ian Shorr – Writer, Producer and panda enthusiast

Known for Splinter (2008), Office Uprising (2018) and Infinite (2021)

Ian Shorr is a prolific spec-hound, with several spec sales to his name.

Joanna Tilley – Writer and Script Consultant

Since writers struggle writers to create female characters as three-dimensional as their leading men, Joanna consults on developing the female elements of scripts

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

Shannan E. Johnson – CEO of The Professional Pen

Shannan E. Johnson is a former creative executive of TV development and programming turned CEO of the first black-owned script consultancy.

Steve Kaplan – Comedy Expert

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

Suzanne Gundersen – Founder of ScreenwriteNOW

Suzanne Gundersen is Founder of ScreenwriteNOW and Inner Story Consultant who mentors & teaches screenwriters and industry creatives how to clear the path that let’s their story flow.

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.

“

It was great and it made me realise how incredibly massive LSF always is. Team LSF really is remarkable, and I thank the day you decided to take on this task."