Focus Features chief executive James Schamus and Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy have joined the line-up of the Screenwriters’ Festival (SWF), which runs October 26 – 29 in Cheltenham.

Schamus, who also writes and produces for director Ang Lee, will hold a session entitled, “Why screening is more important to the porn industry than it is the Hollywood studio”. Beaufoy, who picked up an Academy Award earlier this year for Slumdog Millionaire, will discuss the shift of projects and power in the development process to screen with Peter Bloore, the University of East Anglia lecturer.

BBC Films creative director Christine Langan will also give a talk on developing an eclectic slate, while Samantha Horley, managing director of sales agent Salt, will take part in a panel session called What Films Make Money.

The festival, which also includes a script market and pitching sessions, attracts up to 600 delegates each year from about 15 countries. It aims to celebrate and promote the art of scripwriting, while giving writers the chance to meet directors, producers, agents, financiers and commissioners.

Writer and director Armando Iannucci, Ben Stephenson, head of BBC Fiction, Film4 chief Tessa Ross are among the speakers that has already been confirmed for this year’s event.

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