Bafta Guru

BAFTA-winning writer and producer Jimmy McGovern is joined by cowriter Gillian Juckes, actors Sinead Keenan and Sheridan Smith and director David Blair to talk about Care, BBC One's new drama about a mother of two whose own mother succumbs to a devastating stroke, resulting in severe dementia. Listen to the end to learn the ins and outs of story structure and how to hit exactly the right note when everything's on the line.

Acclaimed Scottish writer, producer and director David Mackenzie is best known for Hell or High Water and this year’s Outlaw King. Hear him in conversation with Edith Bowman, discussing the creation of a historical narrative starring Chris Pine, the tyranny of tight schedules and how making a film is like jazz.

Richard E. Grant shares insight on some of the most notable films from his career, from Withnail and I to Can You Ever Forgive Me? Hear about his unique relationship with costar Melissa McCarthy, his biggest on-set pet peeves and his all-time favourite director.

Lead actors Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant join Can You Ever Forgive Me? producer Amy Nauiokas to discuss their new film, which is based on the true story of Lee Israel, a struggling writer who turned to forgery to make ends meet--and perhaps to put herself on the map as well. Listen to the end to hear what Melissa and Richard admire most about Lee despite her crooked and curmudgeonly ways.

Join Taika Waititi, the much-loved filmmaker behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do In the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok, for a hilarious lecture about starting late, taking 6 years to bring scripts to screen and the supreme difficulty of writing comedy. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Legendary writer of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and First Reformed Paul Schrader delivers an in-depth masterclass on the craft of screenwriting. Learn how to tackle the beginning of a project, when to move to the next step and how to tell when you've got something good. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Ol Parker, writer of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel talks rewrites, faking confidence and how to craft the perfect writing playlist in this phenomenal lecture. Followed by a Q+A. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Join acclaimed writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) as she delivers a phenomenal and enlightening lecture about the importance of following your own voice as well as exploring her history as a filmmaker. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Capernaum writer and director Nadine Labaki delivers an inspiring lecture about creativity, filmmaking and the struggle of working as a parent. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Alfonso Cuaron (Roma, Gravity) traces the course of his celebrated career as a filmmaker, breaking down his process and detailing exactly what inspires him. Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series celebrates screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed talent a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

BAFTA-winning actress Nicole Kidman shares insights from her longstanding career, with credits including The Hours, Moulin Rouge, Lion, Big Little Lies and the upcoming Boy Erased and Destroyer.

Still horrid, very horrid! Dick and Dom host a Q&A about the making of Horrid Henry with series writer and producer Lucinda Whiteley, voice talent Lizzie Waterworth-Santo and Aidan Cook.

"You should email quite frequently—certainly every few months—just to say, 'hi, I'm around!'" Get the inside scoop on what really takes your career in television to the next level. Panellists include: Emily Gale, Head of Talent, Fremantle Media UK (Grand Designs, The Apprentice) Lindsay Konieczny, Producer (Stephen: The Murder That Changed A Nation, 999 What's Your Emergency) Ruth Madeley, Actress, BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2016 (Dont Take My Baby, Cold Feet, Fresh Meat) Dan Murdoch, Filmmaker (Britain's Forgotten Men, KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy, Don’t Tell the Bride) Sanjay Singhal, CEO, Voltage TV (One Deadly Weekend in America, Plane Crash, One Born Every Minute) Chaired by Ade Rawcliffe, Head of Diversity at ITV Commissioning

"Be proactive. Ask people for help. Ask your coworkers, ask the senior people. Just go up to someone and say, 'hey, I wanna get better at this; can you help me?' And 100% of the times I've done that, people have always helped me." Find out how to get that edge to help you take the next step in your games career. Panelists include: Henry Hoffman (Co-founder and Creative Director, Fiddlesticks) Johanna Persson (Game Tech Programmer, Guerrilla Games) Anna Hollinrake (Games Artist) Hosted by Alysia Judge

"A strong, unique, individual, compelling point of view is what everybody is after." Get advice on how to take your career in film to the next level. Panellists include: Christiana Ebohon-Green, BAFTA Elevate Director (Some Sweet Oblivious Antidote, Father Brown, Holby City) Anna Valdez Hanks, BAFTA Breakthrough Brit DoP (Hope Gap) Matthew Bates, Agent, Sayle Screen Ray Panthaki, Actor & Producer Hosted by Hannah Patterson, Screenwriter

"The biggest thing is to find a story that you want to tell, have another one in your back pocket, and make sure you're gonna 'wow' them. At the end of it they're gonna think, 'I want to know how that ends!'" Get top tips on how to make your pitch stand out from people who've done it successfully. Hosts: Tom Davis – (MD of Shiny Button, Writer and performer) James DeFrond – (MD of Shiny Button, Writer and Director) Panelists include: Lara Singer, Development Producer, Big Talk Productions Mary Burke, Senior Production and Development Executive, BFI Film Fund Andy Brereton – (MD of Shiny Button and Exec producer)

"Freelancers too often are blown by the winds of fate. Strategise and have some control. Make choices." Tips and tricks for freelancers from repping yourself successfully to making your CV shine. With Sarah Putt Associates.

"People don't have much time. I just did one page for my game, sent it through, and asked, 'are you doing anything like this?'" Experts teach you how to nail that all-important pitch. Panellists include: Mike Bithell (Game Designer and Developer) Noirin Carmody (Founder and COO, Revolution Software) Simon Smith (Managing Director, Thumbfood) Des Gayle (Founder, Altered Gene) Korina Abbott (Video Game Marketing Consultant) Hosted by Video Game Journalist Will Freeman

"Ultimately the see-through wearable that delivers your content but is still physically based—I can still get input stimuli from the real world—is the answer." Discuss the future of gaming and the immersive storytelling of VR. Panellists include: Gary Napper (Supermassive) Ben Maltz-Jones (Rewind) Mark Gerhard (Playfusion)

"What you're selling when you're selling an idea is not just a concept which is this ephemeral, abstract thing; you're selling the fact that you are going to make it into TV." Discuss coming up with a non-scripted idea, developing it and getting it in front of the right people. Panelists include: Chitsi Kurangwa, Development Producer, Outline Productions (The Undateables, Word of the Year) Helen Veale, Creative Director, Outline Productions (No More Boys and Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free, Million Dollar Intern, Health Freaks) Rhe-an Archibald, Expectation Entertainment (The Big Narstie Show) Guy Davies, Factual Commissioner, Channel 5 Hosted by Joff Powell, Executive Producer, Second Star Productions (Million Dollar Car Hunters, Katie Piper’s Extraordinary Births, World Series of Dating)