EIFF partners with Screen on industry conference

The conference, titled “What is the State of the British Film Nation”, will be curated by Screen International editor Mike Goodridge and EIFF director James Mullighan.

Backed by the BFI, the event will consist of a series of presentations, discussions and debates on topics such as co-productions, finance and audience development, with leading industry names including Duncan Heath, Iain Canning, Stephen Garrett and Andy Whittaker.

In a year which saw the UK Film Council being subsumed into the BFI, speakers will address new sources of financing and revenue and look to the future of the British film industry, which still offers one of the richest talent bases in the world, across all disciplines.

Conference sessions - and confirmed speakers - include:

When America sneezes: Hollywood, and the UK industry. Duncan Heath (Independent Talent Group Ltd) and Iain Canning (producer, See-Saw Films: The King’s Speech).

The small, silver screen – the inexorable rise of cinematic television. Ruby Films and Stephen Garrett (executive producer Kudos Film and Television).

Target thy audience, UK producer. Mia Bays (Creative Executive, Microwave, and producer with Missing in Action Films), Andy Whittaker (chairman, Dogwoof) and Pete Buckingham (head of distribution and exhibition, BFI).

Co-productions: why the British should love Europe  Gillian Berrie (producer Sigma Films: Perfect Sense, Young Adam).

Mike Goodridge, editor, Screen International, said: “Screen International is delighted to be partnered with the Edinburgh International Film Festival on this conference which will take an intelligent and hopefully provocative look at the UK industry in light of the public funding reorganisation into the BFI. We are lining up a terrific range of industry experts to talk to the issues of the day and excited that the day will raise constructive discussion about the nuts and bolts of financing film today.”

James Mullighan, Director, Edinburgh International Film Festival added: “In the 65th year of EIFF we are proud to be working with a wide range of new partners, and our relationship with Screen International is something of which I am especially proud. I believe this event to be unmissable for anyone whose business is the business of film.”