BFI announces UK pavilion events programme for Cannes

The BFI announces a line-up of industry events hosted by the UK Pavilion in this year’s Cannes Film Festival led by filmmakers with films having their world premieres in the festival’s official selections as well as discussion events with leading international industry players focused on urgent issues for the industry globally.

All of the events are open to festival and market delegates as well as press attending the festival.

The UK Pavilion which will be based in the Cannes Marché International Village, also offers a meeting space for delegates and information resources about working with the UK.  It is supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding, in partnership with the British Council, British Film Commission (BFC), Creative England, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Film London, Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland, ScreenSkills under the marketing banner of We Are UK Film.

Neil Peplow, the BFI’s director of Industry and International Affairs, said: “The BFI and its national screen agency partners will be supporting the UK film industry at Cannes looking to build new and expand international partnerships. The events programme at the UK Pavilion will showcase films and filmmakers in the official festival line-up and also welcome international speakers, including many of whom are involved in co-productions and initiatives with the UK, in how together we can meet important challenges in the landscape that are common to the independent sector at a global level.”

The UK Film Centre industry events programme which runs from Thursday 19 May to Tuesday 24 May, includes:

Talent Talk: ENYS MEN (Directors’ Fortnight) with writer/director Mark Jenkin, producer Denzil Monk and actor Mary Woodvine in conversation with critic/film programmer Kaleem Aftab. Enys Men starring Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, Flo Crowe and John Woodvine is the second feature film from the BAFTA award-winning Jenkin (Bait) and receives its World Premiere in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Sunday 22 May, 11:00-12.00

Talent Talk: AFTERSUN (Critics’ Week) with writer/director Charlotte Wells and producers Amy Jackson and Adele Romanski in conversation with Lizzie Francke, BFI Film Fund Editor-at-Large. Aftersun is Wells’s feature debut and stars Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio and Celia Rowlson-Hall.  Monday 23 May, 14:00-15:00

Talent Talk: SCALE (Critics’ Week, Shorts) with director and animator Joseph Pierce, producers Hélène Mitjavile, Chris Hees and Jiři Konečny. The talk will be moderated by Phoebe Sutherland, Development Executive at the BFI. Monday 23 May, 16:00-17:00

Cannes do’s and don’ts – How to navigate Cannes and live to tell the tale.  International festival experts share their tips on how to make the most of the festival and market. With industry experts Giona Nazzaro, artistic director of Locarno Film Festival; Eve Gabereau, CEO/Founder of Modern Films; Joanna Solecka, film marketing & social media strategist, Alphapanda; and filmmaker Victoria Thomas.  Moderated by Wendy Mitchell, journalist and film festival consultant. Thursday 19 May, 14:00-15:00

Insights into Changing Markets. Producers and funders across English-speaking territories discuss the challenges of adapting to the changing face of a streamer-led marketplace. With René Bourdages, Vice President, Cultural Portfolio Management, Telefilm Canada; Matt Brodlie, Co-President, Upgrade Productions; Makhosazana Khanyile, CEO National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa; and Graeme Mason, CEO Screen Australia. Moderated by Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Film Fund. Friday 20 May, 11:00-12:00

Not Lost in Translation. European scriptwriters/script editors and directors of international development labs discuss their approaches to nurturing projects and building networks across borders and the challenges and advantages of working across cultures and languages. With Géraldine Bajard, writer/director; Philippe Barrière, script editor and consultant; Matthieu Darras, CEO, Tatino Films; Nadja Dumouchel, script writer and consultant; Biljana Tutorov, producer/writer/director; and Romas Zabarauskas, writer/director.  Moderated by Suzy Gillett, UK Pavilion events curator and script consultant. Friday 20 May, 16:00-17:00

Ambition and Beyond: UK Shorts Focus hosted by BFI NETWORK and the British Council. Award-winning filmmakers share their experiences in creating distinctive short-form work that has found its home firmly on the international festival circuit. BFI Network and British Council offer insights into the support they offer emerging filmmakers. With Olive Nwosu, director, Egúngún/Masquerade, 2021; John Ogunmuyiwa, director, Mandem 2020, Precious Hair & Beauty 202; Caragh Davison, Talent Programme Manager, BFI NETWORK; and Jo Duncombe, Film Consultant/New Talent Lead, British Council. Saturday 21 May, 11:00-12:00

Sparking an Idea – accessing IP. How do producers and writers go about sourcing and adapting original ideas to turn them into films? We discuss what is involved in copyright and adaptation of ideas from stage, page or platform to screen, and vice versa from screen to stage. With Anne Beresford, producer, Artemisia Films; Anwen Griffiths, Partner Lee & Thompson; and Chris Young, producer, Young Films. Moderated by Isabel Davis, Executive Director, Screen Scotland.  Saturday 21 May, 14:00-15:00

Passport to Europe hosted in association with Screen International.  As the UK settles into a post-EU relationship with its closest neighbours, what are the opportunities and challenges for UK and European producers looking to work together?  Filmmakers from across Europe come together to discuss how to navigate this new financial and cultural journey and the advantages for all. With producers Mike Elliott, Emu Films (Benediction, Dirty God); Janine Jackowski, Komplizen Film (Toni Erdmann, A Fantastic Woman); Emily Morgan, Quiddity Films (I Am Not A Witch, Supernova); and Ed Guiney, Element Pictures (The Souvenir: Part II, The Favourite).  Moderated by Matt Mueller, Editor, Screen International.  Saturday 21 May, 16:00-17:00

Just another diversity scheme? International industry representatives discuss how they are working to improve diversify the film industry and how they are tackling the challenges they face. With Yolonda Brinkley, founder/Executive Director, Diversity in Cannes; Tamara Dawit, Vice President, Inclusion and Growth, Canada Media Fund; Marcello Paolillo, Project Manager, Stepin &  U3, Locarno Film Festival; Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO/ Director of the European Film Academy; and Tamara Tatshvili, Head of Training, Medici. Moderated by Melanie Hoyes, Head of Inclusion, BFI. Sunday 22 May, 14:00-15:00

Co-Producing with the UK – Meet the UK Global Screen Fund. Now in its second year, the UK Global Screen Fund has already supported 11 international co-productions, including partnerships with France, Germany, Ireland, Latin America, China and South Africa. Meet the team, and hear from producers who have been supported by the fund how it works. With producers Sigrid Dyekjaer, Red Lava; Lizzie Gillett, Passion Pictures; Sonja Henrici, Sonja Henrici Creates; Shantelle Rochester, Ida Rose; Eva Weber, Mountainfilm; and Jackie Motsepe, CEO KwaZulu-Natal Film. Moderated by Denitsa Yordanova, Head of the UK Global Screen Fund, BFI. Monday, 23 May, 11:00-12:00

Nowhere Special – collaboration and co-production cross-border, presented by the British Film Commission.   Nowhere SpeciaI, a film with UK Italian and Romanian partners was filmed in Northern Ireland. Hear first-hand about the benefits of cross-border co-production for the filmmakers, as well as how international film commissions collaborated supporting their local industries, talent and tourism.  With Ursula Devine, Development Executive, Northern Ireland Screen; Uberto Pasolini, writer/director, Nowhere Special; and Cristina Priarone, president, Italia Film Commissions/general manager, Roma Lazio Film Commission. moderated by Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO Film London/BFC.  Tuesday 24 May, 11:00-12:00