02 Apr 26
All talks, panels, bootcamp sessions and networking brunches listed below are for Create passholders only (first come, first served) and are held at Picturehouse Central. Passholders get priority access to screenings and are not required to book tickets.
14:00 – 18:30
Registration Opens – Cafe
18:30 – 20:00
Opening Night Screening: Rebuilding + Extended Introduction - Screen 1
The festival begins with this ruminative, moving portrait of resilience and human connection, starring Josh O'Connor and filmed against the rapturous backdrop of southern Colorado. Including an introduction with the director.
Guests: Max Walker-Silverman, director
Host: Clare Binns, Picturehouse Cinemas
10:00 – 11:30
Networking Brunch – Cafe & Restaurant
11:30 – 12:30
First Draft: Screenwriting – Screen 1
What transforms a first draft into a masterpiece? This masterclass moves beyond writing theory to look at the real-world impact of notes, rewrites, production requirements and more, examining the space between the first idea and the final cut.
Guest: Joe Barton, screenwriter (Black Doves, The Lazarus Project)
Host: Al Horner, journalist, creator of the Script Apart podcast
12:30 – 13:30
Produced By: Production – Screen 2
Demystifying the most misunderstood role in the film industry, this panel examines the practicalities of the production process, from the logistics of development and financing to the reality of managing a director's vision on set.
Guests: Andrew Macdonald, producer (28 Years Later, Trainspotting); Tobi Kyeremateng, producer (Pillion, H is for Hawk); Rachel Dargavel, producer (My Father's Shadow, Filth, Only You); Lucy Drury, producer (My Father's Shadow, Pillion).
Host: Caragh Davidson, development producer and script editor
12:45 – 13:45
Keeping the Score: Music in Film – Screen 4
This engaging, participatory session explores film music choices, licensing, and the process of music supervision, deconstructing how music interacts with the moving image to shape a story. Presented in partnership with Dark Matter.
Guest: Chi Chi Nwakodo, music supervisor
Host: Isaac Tomiczek, filmmaker
14:00 – 15:00
Bootcamp 1: Production – On-Set – Screen 2
This quick-fire Q&A session provides a taste of the myriad responsibilities involved in physical production: explore the roles of the 1st Assistant Director, the Production Designer, and the Cinematographer, exploring how these departments collaborate to bring a script to life.
Guests: To be announced
Host: Rowan Woods, film programmer and curator
14:15 – 15:15
Bootcamp 2: Production – Craft and Aesthetic – Screen 4
This quick-fire Q&A session provides an informative look at the creative departments responsible for a film's visual identity. Get into the tactile side of filmmaking, and explore the roles of the Art Department, Costume Design, and Hair and Makeup teams in creating a film's 'look'.
Guests: Juliana Barreto Barreto, production designer (Rebuilding, Earth Mama); Cynthia De La Rosa, hair and makeup (Killing Eve, Femme), Rosa Dias, costume designer
Host: Charlotte Matheson, assistant producer and publicist
15:30 – 16:30
Bootcamp 3: Post-Production – Screen 2
This quick-fire Q&A session invites you into the edit suite to explore the technical and creative disciplines that bring a project to completion. Explore Editing, Sound Design and Colour Grading with an expert panel who get into how post-production shape a film's final form.
Guests: Phil Hignett, editor (Finding Emily, Sex Education), Colourist and Sound Designer to be announced.
Host: Rowan Woods, film programmer and curator
15:45 – 16:45
Creative Resilience: When The Going Gets Tough – Screen 1
When we see filmmakers achieving success, it's easy to imagine a charmed life of endless opportunities or a hero's journey of overcoming insurmountable odds – but the more typical reality involves hard work, persistence, and the ability to adapt when things don't go according to plan. Four NFTS alumni from a range of specialisms join us to discuss how they've developed the resilience to see them through the setbacks.
Guests: Eoin Doran, screenwriter and BAFTA nominee (Wasteman); Louise Burton, sound designer (Wuthering Heights, Bohemian Rhapsody); Solomon Golding, producer and Screen Star of Tomorrow 2024 (The Incomer, Extra Geography); Tanya Singh, editor (Birds of War)
Host: Sandra Hebron, NFTS Head of Screen Arts
17:15 – 18:45
Black Mirror: Eulogy + Charlie Brooker In Conversation – Screen 1
Join multi-BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning creator Charlie Brooker for an exclusive look into the dark, satiric world of Black Mirror. Following a rare big-screen presentation of 'Eulogy'—the Season 7 standout starring Paul Giamatti - Brooker deconstructs the episode's genesis, the craft of near-future world-building, and the evolving landscape of speculative storytelling. Presented by Netflix.
Guests: Charlie Brooker, Screenwriter and Executive Producer
Host: Francine Stock, critic and broadcaster
18:30 – 19:30
Happy Hour - Members' Bar
Join us in the bar for an hour of informal networking, drinks and snacks!
19:30 – 21:30
Screening: God's Own Country + Q&A – Screen 1
Francis Lee's raw, sensory debut remains a landmark of contemporary British queer cinema, as visceral and vital as the day it premiered. Join the director for a special screening and in-depth conversation exploring the film's enduring impact, its unflinching portrayal of rural life, and the delicate craft of building its profound emotional landscape.
Guests: Francis Lee, director
Host: Guy Lodge, film critic
10:00 – 11:30
Networking Brunch – Cafe, Restaurant & Members' Bar
11:30 – 12:30
Genre: Horror – Screen 1
Horror is often the perfect vessel for bold, subversive storytelling. Get in amongst the blood and bones of British indie horror with our panel of filmmakers, exploring why the genre remains one of the most vital inventive spaces for emerging talent.
Guests: Alice Lowe, director (Prevenge, Timestalker); Prano Bailey-Bond, director (Censor); Jed Shepherd, writer (Host, Dashcam)
Host: Mike Muncer, Evolution of Horror
12:30 – 13:30
Premiere Status: UK Film Festivals – Screen 2
A transparent look at how the UK's leading festivals discover and champion new work, this panel explores what programmers are looking for in new submissions, and how to find the right platform to build your film's profile. Presented in partnership with Festival Formula.
Guests: Grace Barber-Plentie, BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ Festival, London Film Festival; Paul Ridd, Edinburgh International Film Festival; Savina Petkova, Cambridge Film Festival
Host: Mark Brennan, Festival Formula
12:45 – 13:45
Bootcamp 4: Distribution – Screen 4
What happens once a film is finished, and how does it actually reach an audience? Whether you're making an independent short or a studio film, this panel demystifies the commercial side of film for emerging filmmakers, providing a comprehensive overview of the acquisitions pipeline.
Guests: To be announced
Host: Clare Crean, NFTS Head of Marketing, Distribution, Sales and Exhibition
14:00 – 15:00
Agents' Speed Meeting - Members' Bar
Your chance to speak to a selection of agents from a number of the best UK and international talent agencies. Sign-up required – please check passholder email communications for full details.
Guests:
Emily Smith, The Agency
CJ Rock, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates
Jack Gilchrist, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates
Maya Marie, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates
Simon Renshaw, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates
Sam Greenwood, Curtis Brown
Matthew Dench, Dench Arnold
Christina Pickworth, ImagineTalent
Kelly Spearman, Sara Putt & Associates
Melissa Hill, Sara Putt & Associates
14:00 – 15:00
Crafting the Scare – Screen 2
This visually driven masterclass explores Corin Hardy's unique creative approach to the horror genre, using storyboards and concept art to deconstruct the anatomy of a scare. Hardy examines the intersection of practical craft and digital post-production, offering a rare look at the logistics of managing a high-stakes horror vision on set.
Host: Corin Hardy, Director (The Nun, Gangs of London, Whistle)
14:15 – 15:15
Animating The Craft – Screen 4
While an animator breathes life into a single character, an animation director must hold the vision for the entire world. But how do you bridge that gap and find your own path in? Join our panel as we explore the jump from technical craft to creative leadership. We'll discuss the nuances of the director's chair—from steering massive teams at legendary studios like Aardman to the grit of founding an independent animation house.
Guests: Baz Sells (Two Black Boys in Paradise); Zoe Hutber (Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; Toyhood)
Host: Michael Leader, film critic, curator and co-creator of the Ghibliotheque podcast
15:30 – 16:30
Big Steps, Small Starts: Landing Your First Role in HETV and Film – Screen 2
Ever wondered what it would feel like to walk on to the set of House of the Dragon? Or maybe you've dreamt of building spaceships for Mickey 17? Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery, this panel brings together alumni from their CrewHQ and WBD Access programmes, whose experience saw them work on some of the biggest TV and film franchises in the world. We'll cover what programmes are out there to help you break into the industry, as well as top tips for navigating your first day on set.
Guests: To be announced
Host: Rico Johnson-Sinclair, Skills and Training Director, Warner Bros. Discovery CrewHQ
15:45 – 16:45
Bootcamp 5: Marketing – Screen 4
This quick-fire Q&A session pulls back the curtain on the strategies and creative assets used to build a film's public identity. Explore the mechanics of theatrical campaigns, digital strategy, and poster design with an expert panel who deconstruct how a film is positioned and sold to global audiences.
Guests: Ed Frost, Intermission; Kate Gardiner, Searchlight; Jake Cunningham, Industria
Host: Sam Clements, Picturehouse Cinemas
17:15 – 18:15
Stars of Tomorrow – Screen 1
Presented in partnership with Screen International, this insightful panel brings together a group of their 'Stars of Tomorrow' to discuss their varied trajectories, offering a rare look at how careers evolve across different disciplines in the years following that initial industry spotlight.
Guests: Guests: Charlotte Regan, writer-director (Scrapper, Mint); Archie Madekwe, actor-producer (Saltburn, Lurker); Naqqash Khalid, writer-director (In Camera); Lucy Halliday, actor (Blue Jean, The Testaments)
Host: Charles Gant, Screen International
17:30 – 18:15
Film Trailer Masterclass – Screen 4
From the haunting 'Creep' cover in The Social Network to the visceral minimalism of Schindler's List, Mark Woollen has redefined the modern movie trailer. Join the industry's most visionary editor for a masterclass on the art of the 'coming attraction,' exploring how he distils complex narratives into high-impact, two-minute cinematic experiences for directors like David Fincher and the Coen Brothers.
Guests: Mark Woollen, trailer editor
Host: Beth Webb, Empire
18:30 – 19:30
Happy Hour - Members' Bar
Join us in the bar for an hour of informal networking, drinks and snacks!
19:00 – 21:00
Screening: Censor + Q&A – Screen 1
Five years since its neon-soaked debut, Prano Bailey-Bond's Censor returns to the big screen as a definitive milestone of modern British horror. Join the director alongside key members of the cast and crew for an anniversary screening and Q&A, deconstructing the film's meticulous practical craft and its chilling love letter to the 'video nasty' era.
Guests: Prano Bailey- Bond, director; Niamh Algar, cast; Helen Jones, producer; Annika Summerson, cinematographer; Mark Towns, editor; Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, composer
Host: Clarisse Loughrey, critic and broadcaster
19:30 – 21:00
Film Quiz – Members' Bar
Grab a drink and put your cinematic obsession to the test in a classic pub-style quiz hosted by the BBC's Ali Plumb (of 'Untitled Film Quiz Project' fame). Expect high-energy rounds, niche trivia, and plenty of "movies any good?" banter in this fast-paced, competitive session designed for casual fans and hardened cinephiles alike.
Host: Ali Plumb
10:00 – 11:30
Networking Brunch – Cafe & Restaurant
11:30 –12:30
Sophomore Class – Screen 1
In this panel discussion, several BIFA Springboard filmmakers will discuss their journeys from first to second film, including financing and funding; timeline and process; casting; sales and distribution and ultimately next steps. We'll also focus on survival techniques in an industry where creating a sustainable career can be a challenge. We'll try to make it a fun discussion, sharing wisdom and advice, and the audience should feel able to ask questions and enjoy some straight answers.
Guests: Sasha Nathwani, director (Last Swim); Branwen Prestwood Smith, producer (The Mauritanian), more to be announced
Host: Racheal Castell, Learning and Development producer, BIFA
12:30 – 13:30
Film Funding in the UK – Screen 2
Securing the budget is often the most significant hurdle for any filmmaker. This session provides a practical overview of the UK's funding landscape, demystifying the pathways to financial support for short films and debut features alike.
Guests: Mia Bays, BFI; David Kimbangi, Film4
Host: Ben Dalton, Screen International
12:30 – 14:30
Live Pitching – Screen 4
Step into the 'Dragon's Den' of Picturehouse Create for a high-energy, supportive session on the art of the sell. Passholders are invited to put their names in the hat for a chance to deliver a three-minute pitch—ranging from early-stage dreams to projects with talent attached—to a panel of seasoned experts. Whether you're on-stage refining your delivery or in the audience scouting for your next collaborator, this closed-door session offers a rare, relaxed look at how to capture attention for your bold new idea.
Jury: Paul Ridd, Edinburgh International Film Festival; Stefani Fahrion, Film4; Lawrence Mason, Netflix; more to be announced
Host: Sam Clements, Picturehouse Cinemas
13:45 – 15:45
Screening: Finding Emily + Q&A
A perfect fit for the festival's homegrown ethos, celebrate this Manchester-set charmer of a romantic comedy at a very special preview screening, followed by a Q&A with its director and producer. Rising star Spike Fearn plays lovesick musician Owen who sparks a hilarious, campus-wide frenzy – with the help of a driven psychology student (Angourie Rice) – when he's given the wrong number for his dream girl.
Guests: Alicia MacDonald, director; Olivier Kaempfer, producer
Host: Hope Hopkinson, Picturehouse Cinemas
15:15 – 16:15
Keeping It Short: Shorts Filmmakers – Screen 2
This insightful session deconstructs the specific alchemy of short-form storytelling, treating the medium as a distinct art form as well as a stepping stone to longer form projects. Join an expert panel to explore the art of short filmmaking, examining how to build atmosphere, develop character, and deliver a cinematic gut-punch within a restricted runtime.
Guests: Mark Jenkin, filmmaker; Luís Hindman, filmmaker; Sam H Freeman, filmmaker
Host: Savina Petkova, Talking Shorts & Cambridge Film Festival
16:30 – 18:30
Short Film Showcase – Screen 1
Celebrate the future of film with the Picturehouse Create Short Film Showcase, bringing the finalists for our short film competition together on the big screen. After the showcase, we'll announce two winners – the Jury Prize, and an Audience Award as voted for by you!
Jury: Myles Wheeler, filmmaker (hi from a mayfly, Picturehouse Create Jury Prize 2025); Julia Jackman, writer-director (100 Nights of Hero); Aleks Dimitrijevic, Festival Director, London Short Film Festival; Jake Cunningham, Industria Studios
Host: Lucy Fenwick Elliott, Picturehouse Cinemas
19:00 – 21:00
Screening: Rose of Nevada + Q&A – Screen 1
The festival closes with a special screening of this entrancing tale of time travel from the mind behind BAFTA-winner Bait. George MacKay and Callum Turner star as the crew of a long-lost fishing vessel that mysteriously sends them back to 1993. Followed by a Q&A with the director and producer in attendance, hosted by Scottish filmmaker Ben Sharrock.
Guests: Mark Jenkin, director; Denzil Monk, producer
Host: Ben Sharrock, filmmaker
19:30 – 23:59
Closing Night Party – Building Takeover
Join us for the ultimate festival wrap as we take over the entire building for a night of celebration! We're closing out the festival with a party dedicated to the people who make the Create what it is - open to all passholder, guests, talent, industry speakers and the incredible team of volunteers and staff. Fuel up on free food and drink, with tacos from Los Gordos, Modelo beer, and pick & mix for everyone - and hit the dancefloor with DJs spinning until the clock strikes twelve. Everyone's invited!
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Netflix, Kia, Mubi, Modelo
THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Dark Matter, BIFA, Screen International, NFTS, Warner Bros. Discovery, Festival Formula
All speakers and screenings are subject to change.
