The Manchester Film Festival announce its comprehensive industry programme, taking place during the festival on the 20 and 21 March at the Met Film School. The programme offers an exciting and diverse range of panels and discussions tailored to filmmakers, producers, film students, screenwriters, and industry professionals.
This year’s industry line up will cover a range of essential topics, from documentary filmmaking and the journey from short films to features, to the craft of screenwriting and the future of UK independent films. The festival will welcome experts from across the film industry including BAFTA winner Franz Bohm (Rock Paper Scissors), Philip Hoile (Bulldog Films), Emmy Nominated Director Tessa Hoffe (Zero Chill), LFF Winner Alice Hughes (Holloway), BAFTA Winner Colin O’Toole (Cowboy Dave) plus so many more.
Neil Jeram Croft, Festival Director, Manchester Film Festival says: “We are passionate about providing a platform for both established and emerging talent to connect, collaborate, and learn. Our Industry Days in 2025 promise to be an exciting opportunity for the North West film community to dive deep into the ever-evolving world of cinema. From documentaries to the journey from shorts to features, we are bringing together some of the brightest minds in the industry to share their knowledge and insights. ”
Overview of the Industry Programme:
Documentary Filmmaking
Hosted by: James Pickering
This session will explore the various facets of documentary filmmaking, from the art of storytelling to navigating distribution. Panelists include:
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Jez Lewis – Director of Ghosts (2006), The Pacemakers (2017), and Elephant Mother (2022), as well as an esteemed executive producer.
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Alice Hughes – Director of Half Way (2015) and Holloway (2024), the latter of which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 London Film Festival.
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Sonja Henrici – Director of The Oil Machine (2022 – BBC) and Merkel (2022 – Netflix), with multiple BAFTA nominations for her work in documentary.
Stepping Up From Shorts
Hosted by: Chloe Bush
This panel will focus on the transition from short films to features or TV. Hear from:
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Beth Rowland – BAFTA Connect Member, Warner Bros x Waterloo Road Directors Cohort 2024.
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Jesse Quinones – BAFTA member and writer/director currently working on multiple projects including Waterloo Road.
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Tessa Hoffe – Emmy-nominated director of Netflix’s Zero Chill and Kin (2021).
Making Award-Worthy Shorts
Explore what makes a short film stand out in competitive awards spaces. Panelists include:
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Liam White – BAFTA and BIFA-nominated director of Housewarming and Punch-Drunk.
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Colin O’Toole – BAFTA-winning director of Cowboy Dave.
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Guillaume Levil – Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Red Suitcase.
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Franz Bohm – 2025 BAFTA winner with Rock Paper Scissors.
Screen Manchester: Promoting Filmmaking in the Region
Join Elli Metcalfe and Bobby Cochrane from Screen Manchester to learn how they support filmmakers and drive the regional film economy.
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Elli Metcalfe – Crew and Facilities Manager, dedicated to developing new talent in film and television production.
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Bobby Cochrane – Film Office Manager, with over 20 years of experience facilitating major productions across Manchester.
Screenwriting Panel
Hosted by: Felix von Strumm of ScriptUp Studios
An insightful panel on the craft of great screenwriting with:
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Eleonora Mignoli (Leo) – UK-based queer, neurodivergent screenwriter, with options for Codes of Love and the film Steal Your Heart streaming on Amazon Prime.
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Shaunna O’Brien – Script Editor for BBC’s SISTER production company, working on hit dramas like This Is Going to Hurt and Gangs of London.
UK Independent Features Market
In this session, key industry players discuss the current market trends for UK independent features and what distributors, producers, and sales agents are looking for in 2025. Panelists include:
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Ethan Cross – Sales & Acquisitions Executive at Film Seekers.
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Gareth Jones – Executive producer and international sales expert with over 125 films to his name, including Boiling Point and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
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Philip Hoile – Head of Acquisitions at Bulldog, overseeing theatrical and home entertainment releases.
The Importance of Film Journalism
In this conversation, we explore the critical role of film journalism, the importance of critics, and the path into this dynamic industry. Panelists include:
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Clarisse Loughrey – Chief film critic for The Independent, columnist for Flicks, and regular guest on Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review and BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.
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Emily Murray – Entertainment Editor at GamesRadar+ and social media manager for Total Film, with by-lines across multiple prominent outlets.
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Tom Percival – Film critic for BBC Radio Manchester and features editor for Dexerto, a longstanding contributor to Manchester Film Festival and other major publications.
Additionally, the festival has announced a number of confirmed guests who will participate in post screening discussions and Q&As following their screenings. These include F1 World Champion Damon Hill for HILL, the BAFTA nominated SANTOSH writer/ director Sandhya Suri, writer/ director Sasha Nathwani for LAST SWIM and writer/director Ryan J. Smith for KID.
Full details below of confirmed attendance:
Aontas – Damian McCann (Writer/Director)
Departures – Lloyd Eyre-Morgan (Writer/Director), Neil Ely (Writer/Director)
Foul Evil Deeds – Richard Hunter (Writer/Director)
Hostages – Jim Owen (Writer/Director)
Kid – Ryan J. Smith (Writer/Director), Rhiann Millington (Cast)
Hill – Damon Hill (Subject), Simon Lazenby (Producer)
Last Swim – Sasha Nathwani (Writer/Director)
Meta: The Dazzling Girl – Prasanth Mambully (Writer/Director)
Near Miss – Jamie Rafn (Writer/Director)
Phase – Jessica Vogt (Writer/Director), Tom Ransom (Writer)
Restless – Jed Hart (Writer/Director), Lyndsey Marshal (Cast)
Santosh – Sandhya Suri (Writer/Director)
The Accidental Spy – Anthony Wonke (Director)
The Severed Sun – Dean Puckettt (Writer/Director)
Silent Notes – Antonio Comas Torres (Director)
Transplant – Jason Park (Writer, Director)
Treading Water – Gino Evans (Writer, Director), Joe Gill (Cast)
Two Big Feet – Noah Stratton-Twine (Writer, Director), Oliver Woolf (Cast)
