Speakers

SPEAKERS BEING ADDED DAILY
The London Screenwriters’ Festival features around 100 professional speakers from all aspects 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 added periodically with the vast majority being confirmed late spring / early summer 2020. Get updates by signing up below.

“

The Actors’ Table Read was my highlight … I learned so much from the friendly, talented actors. The director came up with an idea which dramatically improved my script.

Janet Williams, Screenwriter

Headliners

Ed Neumeier – Screenwriter & Producer

Credits include: Robocop & Starship Troopers

Brilliant satarist and Sci-Fi legend Ed Neumeier joins the line up for LSF18.

Jonathan Lynn – Screenwriter, Director & Playwright

Credits include: Yes Minister, Clue

Jonathan co-wrote and created the quintessential political comedy 'Yes Minister'.

Julian Fellowes – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Downton Abbey, Gosford Park

Author of several best-seller novels, Oscar winner for Gosford Park and creator, writer and executive producer of the multi award-winning Downton Abbey.

Lynne Ramsay – Screenwriter, Director & Producer

Credits include: We Need To Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here

She has consistently received critical acclaim and won Best Screenplay in Cannes for 'You Were Never Really Here'.

Scott Myers – Screenwriter, Producer and Educator

Screenwriter of 'K-9' with Jim Belushi and 'Trojan War' with Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Screenwriter and producer, head honcho at 'Go Into The Story' and Black List offical blog scribe.

Timothy Harris – Screenwriter

Credits include: Trading Places, Twins

Timothy is a BAFTA nominated Screenwriter, Author and Producer.

“

It’s extraordinary to meet so many people in one place who are on the same journey, and I will never get tired of hearing their stories.

Michelle Hood, Screenwriter

Awards Host

Aidan Goatley – Comedian

Aidan Goatley made his debut with his Edinburgh show 10 Films with my Dad in 2011 which went on to be performed over 500 times and in 15 countries.

Betty Denville – Actor

Credits include: Endeavour, M.I.High, Seed of Chucky

Betty is the youngest of 14 generations of actors in her family. She has worked on stage and on screen both in film and in TV from a young age.

“

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

Dan Mazer – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Borat, Bruno, The Dictator, Dirty Grandpa

Dan is currently making waves writing and directing the latest Sacha Baron Cohen phenomenon 'Who is America?'

Barrie Keeffe – Screenwriter and playwright

Credits include: The Long Good Friday, Sus

He wrote 'The Long Good Friday', easily one of the top ten British films of all time!

Adrian Hodges – Screenwriter

Adrian is the creator of 'The Musketeers' and 'Primeval', and has written several Brit films, including Ken 'My Week With Marilyn'

Stuart Hazeldine – Screenwriter

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

Roland Moore – Screenwriter

Credits include: Land Girls, Rastamouse, Smack the Pony

Roland created the award-winning returning drama series Land Girls for BBC1 and has written for a range of television series.

Justin Young – Screenwriter & Producer

Credits include: Holby City, Eastenders, Casualty

Justin Young is a screenwriter, playwright and producer. He’s written for a variety of drama series including Ripper Street, Dickensian and Death in Paradise.

Tony Jordan – Writer and producer

Credits include: Hustle, Life On Mars, Holby Blue

He’s written for and created some of the most iconic and successful British TV series, including Life on Mars and East Enders.

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.

Ben Ward – Screenwriter

Credits include: Horrible Histories, Danger Mouse

Ben has written for numerous award winning children’s comedies and dramas, including 'Horrible Histories'.

David Nicholls – Screenwriter & Novelist

Credits include: Starter for Ten, Patrick Melrose

Award winning writer David's most recent work was Sky Atlantic's critically acclaimed 'Patrick Melrose' starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Debbie Moon – Screenwriter

Credits include: Wolfblood, Hinterland

Debbie is the BAFTA-winning creator and lead writer of the CBBC fantasy drama series Wolfblood, which ran for five series and is shown in nearly 60 countries.

Deborah Haywood – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Pin Cushion, Lady Margaret

Deborah's feature debut Pin Cushion was released in July 2018 to four-star reviews across the board and was critic’s choice in The New York Times.

Deborah Moggach – Novelist & Screenwriter

Credits include: Pride & Prejudice, Tulip Fever

Deborah has written 20 novels, 5 of which she adapted for TV and was BAFTA nominated for Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley.

Dirk Maggs – Writer & Director

Credits include: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Described as as 'The Steven Spielberg Of Audio' (by an over zealous marketing department) and a 'National Treasure' by Neil Gaiman.

Dominic Minghella – Screenwriter & Producer

Credits include: Doc Martin, Hamish Macbeth

Dominic has an exceptional reputation for creating, producing and writing internationally successful drama.

Emmanuel Oberg – Screenwriter & Consultant

Credits include: Double Game

Over the last few years, Emmanuel has written and developed feature films for Working Title, Film4 and Gold Circle.

Hania Elkington – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Innocents

Hania's first project to his screens, 'The Innocents', co-created with Simon Duric premieres on Netflix this August.

Hans Rosenfeldt – Screenwriter & Author

Credits include: The Bridge, The Tunnel, Marcella

Hans is one of the creators of the incredibly successful and award-winning Scandinavian TV-series 'The Bridge'.

Hugh Stoddart – Screenwriter

Credits include: We Think the World of You, Remembrance

Hugh’s first film Begging the Ring won the Grierson Award and was screened by the BBC, beginning a long career as a screenwriter.

Jack Bernhardt – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Lentil Sorters

Recipient of the BBC Radio Comedy Writer's Bursary, Jack has written for a wide range of shows and regularly contributed to series such as The News Quiz and Dead Ringers.

Janet van Eeden – Screenwriter & Educator

Screenwriter and Head of Post Graduate Studies at AFDA Durban’s Film, Television and Performance School

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 Gilbert – Screenwriter & Script Consultant

Credits include: The Zigzag Kid

Jon is a screenwriter and script consultant with over fifteen years’ experience working in the U.K. and U.S. 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.

Lisa McMullin – Screenwriter

Credits include: Doctors

Lisa’s first episode of BBC drama Doctors aired in June and she has been commissioned for two more; as well as an episode of Eastenders.

Lucinda Whiteley – Screenwriter & Producer

Credits include: Horrid Henry, Fimbles, Maisy

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

Lucy van Smit – Novelist & Screenwriter

Credits include: The Hurting

Lucy's debut novel The Hurting was brought by JK Rowling’s publisher – the legendary Barry Cunningham and Chicken House Books.

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.

Matt Fitton – Writer & Script Editor

Credits include: Doctor Who, Terry Nation's Survivors

Matt writes for a/o Big Finish's 'Doctor Who' range, including the continuing audio adventures of Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor.

Michael Clarkson – Writer & Director

Credits include: His Dark Materials, The Feed

Michael is one half of The Clarkson Twins, writers repped by Independent Talent and ICM.

Ming Ho – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Things We Never Said, Eastenders, Casualty

Ming is an award-winning writer for stage, screen and radio.

Nat Saunders & James Serafinowicz – Screenwriters

Credits include: Misery Bear, Big Train

Nat and James created Netflix comedy Sick Note and are Creative Directors at Stolen Picture, set up by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

Ol Parker – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,

After making his start on Grange Hill, Ol's career path has led him all the way to the BAFTA nominated 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'.

Rachel Paterson – Screenwriter

Credits include: Casualty

Rachel finished her first spec script in 2016, and started writing for 'Casualty' in 2018. Her first episode will air in October 2018.

Rhianna Pratchett – Games Writer & Developer

Credits include: Heavenly Sword, Tomb Raider

Rhianna is a sixteen-year veteran of the video games industry is one of the most respected writers and narrative designers in her field.

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.

Robert Shearman – Screenwriter

Credits include: Doctor Who, The Chain Gang

Robert is an award-winning playwright, audio and TV writer.

Sam Leifer – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Plebs, How Not To Live Your Life

Sam is the co-creator, writer and director of 'Plebs', the multi-award-winning Ancient Roman sitcom.

Simon Duric – Screenwriter, Director & Producer

Credits include: The Innocents, Later

Simon is the Co-creator, Co-writer and Executive Producer of new Netflix Original show 'The Innocents'.

Stephen Volk – Screenwriter & Playwright

Credits: Ghostwatch, Afterlife

Stephen Volk is a BAFTA-winning writer best known for the controversial 1992 BBCTV "Hallowe’en hoax" Ghostwatch.

Tim Stimpson – Screenwriter

Credits include: The Archers, Eastenders, Doctors

Tim has written hundreds of episodes of the BBC's much beloved radio soap 'The Archers' - the longest running radio soap in the world.

Tim Telling – Writer

Credits include: The Mash Report

Tim is the editor of the Daily Mash, the UK’s most popular original satire website, and lead writer of the hit BBC2 topical show The Mash Report.

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.

“

I came away from the Script Surgery with clear suggestions on how to improve my screenplay plus practical tools to help me implement those ideas.

KT Parker, Screenwriter

People who get stuff made

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, Cracker, Queer As Folk

Gub is an award-winning producer who has headed up the Drama departments at both Channel 4 and Granada.

David Nicholas Wilkinson – Producer

Credits Include: The First Film, How To Change The World

David has been involved in the production/ distribution of over 100 British feature films with budgets from £20,000 to $16 million.

Andromeda Godfrey & Diana Juhr DeBenedetti – Actress & Screenwriter

Credits include: 2:Hrs, Dream Date

Actress Andromeda and Screenwriter Diana founded Makelight Productions in 2010 to develop and produce entertaining independent films.

Caroline Percy – Investment Manager | The Ingenious Group

Credits include: Marcella, Wind River

Since joining Ingenious in 2015, Caroline has worked on a number of Drama, Factual and Childrens’ programming.

Catherine Williams – Series Co-creator & Head Writer

Credits include: Pet Squad, Teletubbies

Catherine's credits in pre-school include the award-winning Topsy + Tim, Waffle the Wonder Dog and forthcoming Chip & Potato on Netflix.

Chris Stott – Executive Producer

Credits include: The Mash Report

Chris is the creator and executive producer of 'The Mash Report'.

Christian Vesper – EVP Creative Director Global Drama | FremantleMedia

Christian works closely with FremantleMedia’s production companies as a development partner with a focus on bolstering the international scripted development slate.

Gary Phillips – MD & Founder | Moviehouse Entertainment

Gary's Moviehouse Entertainment is one of very few truly independent film sales and production companies operating in London.

Gavin Humphries – Producer

Credits include: Pin Cushion

Gavin is a BAFTA nominated and Cannes winning producer having worked on projects with the British Film Institute, Google, Film4, Tate Modern and the BBC.

Jeff Norton – Writer-Producer & Author

Credits include: MetaWars, Trucktown, Princess Ponies

Jeff is a writer-producer, and author of the award-winning thriller series MetaWars.

John Yorke – MD Angel Station

Credits include: Wolf Hall, Shameless, Life On Mars

John Yorke is Managing Director of Angel Station where he works as a drama producer, consultant and lecturer on all forms of storytelling.

Julia McKenzie – Head of BBC Radio Comedy

Credits include: The Jason Byrne Show, French & Saunders

Julia produces comedies for Radio 2.

Louise Pedersen – CEO | all3media international

Louise recently returned to lead all3media International as CEO after spending 18 months as MD of drama prod. co. Playground Television.

Lucy Clarke – Screenwriter & Producer

Credits include: Horrible Histories, Fabulous

Lucy Clarke has been a comedy writer for 15 years following an award-winning career as a TV producer.

Martin Alltimes – CEO/Founder | The Imaginati Studio

Martin and Imaginati Studios are currently focused on creating games based on 'The Planet of Apes' franchise on console and PC.

Natalie Brenner – Founder Partner | Metro International Entertainment

Credits include: Journey's End, Dorian Gray

Natalie Brenner has over 30 years of experience in the film industry starting her career in film sales with J&M Entertainment

Nik Powell – Producer and Director of National Film and Television School

Credits include: The Crying Game, Mona Lisa

Virgin co-founder turned Producer, Nik is the man behind some of the most successful and acclaimed British films of all time.

Rhona Foulis – Executive Assistant

Credits include: Salmon, The Man in the High Castle

Rhona is Executive Assistant to Frank Spotnitz and Jamie Hall at Big Light Productions, a TV drama production company.

Robyn Slovo – Producer

Credits include: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Former exec at BBC Films and head of film at Company Pictures, Robyn is now an independent producer.

Simon Harper – Executive Producer of Casualty & Holby City

Credits include: Casualty, Holby City

Simon has many years of script editing under his belt and is now Executive Producer on Casualty and Holby City.

“

Energising! I have a great sense of direction now, of being included, of real potential...

Felicity McCall, Writer, Northern Ireland

Directors

Eran Creevy – Director and Screenwriter

Credits include: Shifty, Welcome To The Punch, Collide

Eran wrote and directed the BAFTA nominated Shifty; he most recently re-wrote The Killer for John Woo.

MJ Bassett – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Strike Back, Ash vs Evil Dead

MJ Bassett is a feature film and television writer/director.

Simon Rumley – Director

Credits include: Fashionista

Having directed 9 feature films and 2 anthology films, Simon Rumley is one of the most successful and prolific UK directors of his generation.

“

Sensational festival and well worth the travel from Australia!

Trish Curtin, Screenwriter

Actors

Angela Dixon – Actress

Credits include: Never Let Go, Offensive

Angela Dixon is an international actress and star of Howard J Ford's abduction thriller feature film 'Never Let Go'.

Ingrid Oliver – Actor, Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Doctor Who, Peep Show

Ingrid is best known as one half of the comic double act 'Watson & Oliver'. Or maybe as Osgood on 'Doctor Who'.

Katy Manning – Actor

Credits include: Doctor Who, Iris Wildthyme, Casualty

Katy’s enchanted millions by playing Doctor Who’s Jo Grant opposite Jon Pertwee.

Lisa Bowerman – Audio Director & Actress

Credits include: Doctor Who, Casualty, Bernice Summerfield

Lisa is a prolific actress and audio director for among others Big Finish Productions.

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.

Pearl Mackie – Actor

Credits include: Doctor Who

Through this entire decade, international star Pearl Mackie has been exciting audiences of stage, film, and television alike.

“

The Elevator Pitch was brilliant – very kind of him to listen to me blither on about my film.

Jim Eaves, Screenwriter

People who know stuff

Lucy V Hay – Script editor | Bang2write

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

Legendary for her enthusiasm and knowledge which she shares with her community at Bang2Write. Core member of the LSF team.

Chris Jones – Filmmaker and author

Credits include: Oscars 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.

Alejandro Seri – Marketing & Communications Director | Final Draft

Credits include: Placebo Effect, Final Girl

Alejandro Seri is an award-winning, bilingual screenwriter and director.

Amanda Farley – Assistant Script Editor | BBC Writersroom

Amanda organises the yearly BBC TV Writers’ Festival and is Assistant Producer on the Writersroom Comedy Room scheme.

Caroline Marchal – Game Designer

Credits include: Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls

Caroline is a narrative game designer with over 15 years of experience in the industry, passionnate about interactive storytelling.

Dave Clarke – EVP Content | DRG and Atrium TV

Dave is a Television Executive with 20 years experience covering broadcast, commissioning, distribution and production.

David Baboulene Ph.D – Author, Scriptwriter, 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 a story resonates with a human mind.

Emma Pullar – Novelist

Credits include: Curly from Shirley, Skeletal

Emma is a writer of dark fiction and children’s books.

Farah Abushwesha – Producer & Founder of Rocliffe

Credits include: Irreplaceable You

Farah is a BAFTA nominated producer, best selling author and founder of the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writers Competition.

Georgina Sherrington – Development Producer

Georgina Sherrington has worked in development at the BBC and in the indie sector for producers including Maxine Lapiduss (Friends, Roseanne) and BJ Rack (Black Hawk Down).

Henri Ward – Researcher

Credits include: Horrible Histories

Henri works as a researcher for 'Horrible Histories' and more.

Jack Attridge – Co-Founder | Flavourworks

Credits include: ERICA

Using brand new in-house technology, Flavourworks aims to revolutionise the space between film and games.

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.

John Rhodes – Co-Founder of ScreenCraft

John is co-founder of ScreenCraft Media, a screenwriting talent discovery and development company.

Jon Sen – Screenwriter & Director

Credits include: Casualty, Holby City

Writer, Director Jon recently directed Casualty’s ground breaking 'One' – an entire episode in one shot.

Karol Griffiths – Script Editor & Supervisor

Credits include: How I Met Your Mother, Friends

Karol Griffiths is a successful script editor and development consultant with over twenty years of experience.

Kira-Anne Pelican, PhD – Script Consultant and Researcher

Kira-Anne is an independent script consultant, a PhD researcher in Screenwriting, and visiting tutor at the Met Film School, London.

Leonardo Rizzi – Writer, Script Editor & Educator

Leonardo is incredibly passionate about storytelling in all its forms.

Lord Robin Butler – Baron Butler of Brockwell

Frederick Edward Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell, KG, GCB, CVO, PC is a retired British civil servant, now sitting in the House of Lords as a life peer.

Loretta Preece – Producer, Story Producer & Script Editor

Loretta has been personally responsible for storylining over 2000 episodes of mainstream British television.

Manuel Puro – Casting Director

Credits include: Moon, The Machine, Scar Tissue

Manuel has worked with industry heavy hitters including Guillermo del Toro, Richard Attenborough and Nic Roeg, Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn.

Matthew Kalil – Screenwriter, Director and Script Editor

Credits include: The Three Wells of Screenwriting

He has written and co-written over 40 produced TV shows and has been helping screenwriters with their craft and careers for over 20 years.

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.

Nasreen Ahmed – Script Editor

Credits include: Doctors, Coronation Street

Script Editor on 'Doctors' and recently also story edited a five week special on the subject of Homelessness.

Nic Ransome – Script Editor & Screenwriter

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

Paul Testar – Script Editor

Credits include: Tripped, Endeavour

Paul is a script editor for leading drama company Mammoth Screen.

Philip Hughes – Screenwriter & Educator

Credits include: Thunderpants, I Want Candy

Phil is Course Leader for BA(Hons) Screenwriting & Producing degree and MA Writing for Screen & Stage at Regent’s University, London.

Rossa McPhillips MBE – Screenwriter

Credits include: An MBE (for services he can't tell you about)

Rossa left the army after receiving his MBE and is now pursuing a career as a screenwriting, specialising in military and spy projects.

Simon Nelson – Development Executive

Before joining the Writersroom Simon worked as a Script Editor and Producer for both the BBC and independent companies.

Ted Wilkes – Screenwriter & Educator

Ted currently teaches Screenwriting and Digital Media at Regent's University.

Toby Earle – TV & Film Critic

Toby Earle is the TV & Entertainment Editor at London Live, who writes and presents What to Watch, a weekly show which interviews TV and film talent.

Una McCormack – Writer & Lecturer

Credits include: Star Trek, Doctor Who, Blake's 7

Dr Una McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author specialising in novels based on franchises such as Doctor Who and Star Trek.

Victoria Morris – Development Assistant - Artists Studio

We’re always on the look-out from for interesting, provocative and character-led television drama.

Zak Abby – Development Team Assistant | Bandit Television

Zak is also the assistant to the Emmy and BAFTA Award winning producer Phillippa Giles.

“

A shot in the arm which keeps your screenwriting juices pumped for the next 12 months.

Tracy England, Screenwriter

Moderators

“

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

Janet Williams, Screenwriter

Headliners

Michelle Hood, Screenwriter

Awards Host

Ellen Pruyne

Screenwriters

KT Parker, Screenwriter

People who get stuff made

Felicity McCall, Writer, Northern Ireland

Directors

Trish Curtin, Screenwriter

Actors

Jim Eaves, Screenwriter

People who know stuff

Tracy England, Screenwriter

Moderators

Clara Emanuel, Writer & Actor

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Valeriya Ordinartseva, Screenwriter

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