Our BFI NETWORK industry programme for early-career filmmakers will take place in person and online from 9-11 November. They are open to filmmakers from across the North of England, and every session is free to attend. From screenings, networking events and industry sessions to roundtables and 1-2-1 surgeries with BFI NETWORK Talent Execs, there is a host of opportunities to support writers, directors and producers looking to take the next step in their career.

More information and sign-up links for each of the sessions can be found below.

We’ll be showcasing a special selection of recently commissioned BFI NETWORK shorts from Film Hub North at the Everyman in Leeds. Exploring a wide range of themes and subjects from genre bending thrillers to werewolf comedy horror. We’ll be chatting with some of the talent behind these shorts and finding out what it took to realise their ideas on screen.

Following the screening we’ll be hosting a Networking event where you can kick back, grab a drink and meet this year's Creative Producer Lab cohort who are looking to meet up and coming writers and directors.

This session is open to writers, directors and producers based in England. BFI NETWORK Talent Executives from Film London, Film Hub North and Film Hub South East will be hosting a series of online roundtable info sessions during Leeds International Film Festival. These are informal, conversational sessions primarily for creatives who have not yet had a meeting with BFI NETWORK. They're a chance to meet fellow filmmakers in other regions and to find out about the film funding and development opportunities available through BFI NETWORK and beyond.

What makes an indie film breakout? How do you find the sweet spot between critical success and bums on seats? We’ll be talking to three film experts who have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to UK cinema.

We’ll be picking apart what the current trends are in feature films - genre, style and what gets audiences excited. Discussing how to find the balance between being unique and experimental while gaining commercial success and what we can learn from the risk taking filmmakers and production companies who are leading the way internationally.

Hannah Strong (Digital Editor Little White Lies) and Xuanlin Tham (The Skinny, Little White Lies, i-D, and MASSIVE Cinema) talk how to be successful without being conventional.

Chaired by BFI NETWORK Talent executive Nicole Davis.

Filmmakers based in the North of England can book a 30min, 1-2-1 meeting with a BFI NETWORK Talent Executive to discuss their early-stage feature film ideas. Projects must be at the pre-script stage. The Talent Executive will talk about your project and how our talent development programmes and funding can help advance your idea.

How do you make the leap from shorts to feature and why is it so hard? What makes a calling card short?

We’ll talk to the masters of short film - multi award winning directing duo Grandmas who are currently in the edit of their next short film with the British Film Institute and have a first look deal with BBC Films on their debut Feature film. As well as Claire Oakley whose debut feature 'Make Up', a psycho-sexual coming-of-age tale that plays with genre,was released in 2020 to critical acclaim and is currently developing her next features with the BFI and BBC Films. We’ll discuss making that leap and how they are navigating the journey.

We’ll also hear from Amy O’Hara (Production and Development executive Film 4) and BFI who will talk through how they know when a filmmaker is ready to make that jump.

Pitching is a core part of being a filmmaker. Whether you’re pitching to directors, producers, distributors or investors, a pitch deck is the first asset you will be using to introduce your project. In this session, we will be covering what a pitch deck is and what to include when creating it, the differences between decks for shorts and features, and general advice to help you avoid the pitfalls and create a winning deck.

This session will be delivered by Trey Thomas, Pulse Films.

The BFI NETWORK x LIFF Online Mixer is an opportunity for producers from across the UK to meet the most exciting up and coming feature talent in the North. Northern based writers and writer-directors who are developing their debut feature projects and have yet to find a producer will meet producers from across the UK with a view to forging new connections and collaborations. The BFI NETWORK team will also be in attendance to keep things moving; we'll make introductions and keep you up to date with our latest funding and talent development opportunities.

Writers and Writer-Directors must be based in the North of England and actively working towards their first feature.

Producers can be based anywhere in the UK.

Places are limited and will be allocated to those with the most viable feature propositions. If you would like to join the mixer please apply for a spot by 3 November.