The BFI London Film Festival has announced that it is launching its first LFF Expanded Industry Day on Wednesday 15 October, in partnership with American Express and supported by the Southbank Centre.
Part of the festival’s Industry Programme, the new initiative is LFF’s first dedicated industry platform for immersive, XR and video games.
Taking place across Southbank Centre and BFI Southbank, it offers UK creators a space to connect with international peers, buyers and commissioners, while giving industry delegates early access to projects in development, insights from leading voices and opportunities to build new international connections.
Programme highlights include:
- The festival’s first Works-in-Progress Showcase for immersive and games, presenting five UK projects in development–from The Whale, an immersive reinterpretation of Moby Dick, to Messiah, a satirical VR comedy narrated by comedian Kate Cheka
- Industry talks exploring creative practice and business development:
- Creativity Unleashed? Balancing Artistic Freedom and Distribution Requirements, with international artists, curators and producers from Anagram, Onassis ONX/Tribeca Immersive, Manchester International Festival and AΦE Company (The Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room)
- Championing Immersive Storytelling. Funding Opportunities at the BFI, with case studies and insights from BFI fund directors and BFI-supported creatives (The Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room)
- A networking reception connecting UK immersive and games creators with international peers, buyers and commissioners (The Balcony Bar, BFI Southbank)
Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival director, said: “The launch of LFF Expanded Industry Day marks an important step in recognising immersive and gaming within the festival’s industry programme.
“It reflects our ambition to celebrate all forms of screen culture, positioning XR and video games alongside film, series and documentary as vital modes of contemporary storytelling, and creating new opportunities for UK creators to connect with the international industry.”
Full information is available on the BFI website.
