The BFI has announced the speakers and events for the 2025 London Film Festival Industry Forum.
Opening with a Spotlight conversation with prolific UK producer and co-CEO of House Productions Tessa Ross, this year’s Industry Forum will explore the “pivotal role of producers in nurturing creativity and navigating the ever-changing landscape of the international film industry”, the BFI has said.
Four award-winning producers–Maria Ekerhovd (Sentimental Value), Emily Morgan (Dreamers), Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska (Orphan) and Lorna Tee (Diamonds in the Sand)–will discuss the art of international co-productions, while directors and senior programmers from international film festivals will join a conversation about how festivals are working and evolving to better support cinema and creativity.
Elsewhere, the core creative teams behind festival highlights Ish (writer-director Imran Perretta, producer Dhiraj Mahey and co-writer Enda Walsh) and The Death of Bunny Munro (director Isabella Eklöf, producer Ed Macdonald and writer Pete Jackson) join the line-up for deep dives into their anticipated titles.
Immersive, XR and video games will also be platformed in the inaugural LFF Expanded Industry Day, and discussion events on VFX and documentaries will explore how these sectors are looking to capitalise on opportunities and innovations.
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director, said: “Film festivals are all about connection and I’m thrilled to see this exciting line-up of UK and international guests joining us to share their time, knowledge and experience.
“As ever, our popular networking events and curated meetings will continue to foster new creative and business collaborations, and I look forward to seeing the results of these in the years to come.”
LFF revealed it has doubled the attendance of international industry professional delegates over the last five years, and will once again welcome “world-leading figures who will share their experience and knowledge”.
Industry Forum speakers cover the lifecycle of film–from script stage and pre-production through to international sales and distribution–and new talent will also be spotlighted, with six rising screenwriters from across the UK joining the Emerging Writers in Conversation event.
Silvia Angrisani, BFI London Film Festival industry programme manager, added: “We are delighted to be welcoming international creatives and industry leaders across the whole programme of panel events, taking a deep dive into key areas of the industry from VFX to international sales and screenwriting to festival curation.
“We are especially pleased to be welcoming leading UK producer Tessa Ross for this year’s Spotlight event and to be hosting so many producers across the programme, in a celebration of the integral and instrumental role that independent producers play in the film ecosystem.”
Full information on this year’s Industry Forum is available on the BFI website.
