LFF to shine spotlight on digital film and young film-makers

The LFF revealed details of its programme of industry events and forums today (September 15). As previously announced, James Schamus, chief executive of Focus Features, will deliver an inaugural keynote speech this year.

LFF has also introduced a one-day forum in association with the UK Film Council, Skillset and Film London, called Virtually A Reality: How to Digitise Your Festival. It aims to look at opportunities for digital film festivals across the UK, and to provoke debate on the role of cinema in contemporary culture.

Power to the Pixel’s Cross-Media Film Forum returns to the festival for a third year on Oct 14 and 15, with workshops, networking sessions and business meetings with experts, geared towards developing storytelling across multiple platforms.

This year will also see the first ever Pixel Pitch, an event that will allow up to ten cross-media film projects to compete for an award of $10,000 (£6,000) from online video platform Babelgum.

Further opportunities for young film-makers include Working Your Future, an event which promises to give undergraduates and the recently-graduated an insight to what they might expect at the start of their careers.

Simon Perry, chief executive of Irish Film Board and president of ACE (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen) will give a keynote address at the event.

Also on the agenda is Think-Shoot-Distribute, which runs from Oct. 19 – 23 and offers a week’s mentoring to 25 film-makers.Now in its sixth year, Think-Shoot-Distribute is supported by the Skillset Skills Fund and Film London. Geraldine Patten, a past participant of the event, was selected as one of Screen International’sStars of Tomorrow earlier this year.

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London said: “The various training programmes and discussion events – which utilise the wealth of talent attending the festival – offer valuable learning opportunities and provide a significant legacy for the capital’s film-makers.”

Other regular events returning to the festival include the third Production Finance Market, which takes place from October 20-21, and four days of industry screenings at the Curzon Cinema, from October 19-22.