Industry Events

Flipbook Studio – Animation Pipeline

Wednesday 5th October at 11:00am
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Flipbook is a creative production studio specialising in Animation, VFX, Digital, Immersive and live action productions for TV, film, brands and video. Andrew Lord, the co-founder and managing director joins us to talk through the pipeline of production for the animations they have on their slate. 

How to Network

Wednesday 5th October at 11:00am
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Everyone tells you to “get out and network” but for many this is easier said than done. Where do you find the right events to attend? When you are alone in the room how do you approach people? How does the internet and social media fit into the networking equation? Rob Speranza of the South Yorkshire Film Network offers practical advice and tips that you can act on. 

Starting a production company

Wednesday 5th October at 12:20pm
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How do you start a production company? It seems there are many ways….  Chris Overton began his filmmaking journey small, raising money on Indiegogo and even selling cup cakes to raise the money for his OSCAR winning film, now with a broad slate of shorts and moving to into features his company Slick Films has taken many forms. Barrington Paul Robinson started out in finance before a sudden career change led him to begin producing short films. Now a HTV producer he sits on the panel alongside Dominique Unsworth a fellow BAFTA Elevate producer of 20 years. Passionate about inclusion and accessibility in the screen industries she’s just set up a new production company in Bolton. Our host is Holly Carrington.

A career in Animation

Wednesday 5th October at 12:20pm
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Simon Partington is the Head of Animation at Three Arrows Media. In the past he has worked on numerous animation and puppetry series including ‘Postman Pat SDS’, ‘The Furchester Hotel’, ‘Toby’s Travelling Circus’, ‘Mister Maker Comes to Town’, ‘Treasure Champs’, ‘BabyClub’ and ‘Gigglebiz’. An Animation Director and designer on the multi BAFTA award winning BBC children’s series ‘Old Jack’s Boat’ and co-developer of the spin off series ‘Old Jack’s Boat: Rockpool Tales’ he joins us today to share highlights from his long career. 

Producing Award-Winning Films

Wednesday 5th October at 1:40pm
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Loran is a 2017 Screen Daily Star of Tomorrow, BFI Vision Award winning and BIFA Longlisted Breakthrough Producer with a background in production on BBC Dramas, independent features and major music promos. With a track record of short film screenings and awards at Festivals including Sundance, Palm Springs Film Festival and the Best Producer Award at BAFTA accredited Underwire Film Festival. She sits alongside Chris Hees, a BAFTA winning, Oscar nominated producer and alumnus of the National Film and Television School. His BAFTA winning animation, “The Bigger Picture,” along with his live action short, “How I Didn’t Become A Piano Player”, racked up over 200 festival screenings and 75 awards. 

Groundbreaking Animation – Balázs Simon

Wednesday 5th October at 3:00pm
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Balázs Simon has a great body of work which speaks the language of cinema and has a deep understanding of how to create a feeling through film craft, both in camera and VFX. Last winter he created a stunning film for the BBC Winter Olympics coverage, using combination of 3D printed ice sculptures and stop motion. He’s also received global recognition for his music videos at SXSW and the UKMVA’s. In his new music video for ODESZA, the Blinkink director combines live action and motion capture with painterly 2D and 3D animation to dazzling effect. 

Co-Writing – The Clarkson Twins

Wednesday 5th October at 3:00pm
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The Clarkson Twins – Michael and Paul – are writers and directors from Bolton who have worked for both UK and US television. Their credits include HIS DARK MATERIALS (BBC), THE WHEEL OF TIME (Amazon), THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (Netflix). Their original series RED ROSE (BBC/Netflix) just premiered. A horror/thriller show set in Bolton, written by Boltonians, seriously? Does it get anymore Bolton than this?

UTC Media City Showcase

Wednesday 5th October at 4:30pm
Bolton Museum Theatre 1
A unique, technical and creative college for 14-18 year olds based in the heart of the northern digital world – MediaCityUK brings us this showcase of films, supported by a panel of current students and graduates.

VIP Reception @ The Light Cinema

Wednesday 5th October at 6:00pm
Network
VIP guests and industry networking in The Green Room of the Light Cinema prior to our Opening Night Screening with complimentary red and white wine & snacks. 

Party @ Great Ales

Wednesday 5th October at 9:30pm
Network
Join us for a few bevvies and a chin wag about the films and talks you’ve seen today, or that next film in the making. Our venue of choice is Great Ales within The Vaults, at The Market Place. 

Futureworks Showcase

Thursday 6th October at 10:50am
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Futureworks School of Media provides world-class education and training in Sound, Music, Film & TV, Games, Animation and Visual Effects – in this showcase the school shares it’s latest short films and also talks to guest speakers from Chief TV and Realtime Studio. 

Bolton University Showcase

Thursday 6th October at 10:50am
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Bolton University brings a programme of short films made by a panel of graduates and current students in this showcase of new talent. 

BFI Doc Society – Made of Truth

Thursday 6th October at 12:25pm
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Stepping into docs? Join us for a screening of two recently completed short documentaries funded by the BFI Doc Society Made of Truth Fund: #BlackBoyJoy/Gone and Hanging On. The screening will be followed by a discussion with co-directors Ashley Karrell and Isaac Ouro-Gnao and director Alfie Barker about their creative filmmaking approach and the process of working with funders like BFI Doc Society. Hosted by BFI Doc Society Film Production Executive Hannah Bush Bailey. 
FREE to attend – no booking required. 
Presented as part of BFI NETWORK

Music videos & commercials

Thursday 6th October at 12:40pm
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Ben Thornley of Sitcom Soldiers work has been seen by an audience of millions ,he specialises in music videos and commercials. James Slater has achieved industry recognition, winning NME video of the year, Raindance Video Of The Year as well as nominations for a Brit Award. Ameena Badley is a creative entrepreneur with a background in Fashion, Music management, Video Production and Marketing. Recently she started her own production company and is now working on content and video production for brands across the UK. Chris Turner is a commercial, promo and film director from Favourite Colour: Black. Across his career he has created music videos for artists such as Birdy, Hurts, Jax Jones, The Vamps and Gazelle Twin, and worked with myriad commerci

BFI Doc Society 1:2:1 Surgeries

Thursday 6th October at 2:00pm
KUDOS Gallery
Filmmaker 1-2-1 surgeries with BFI Doc Society Fund 
Sign up for a FREE chat with one of the team about your documentary project and any other pressing questions about creative development, funding and resources. 
Fiona Fletcher : https://tinyurl.com/2fbh2tbj

Sound Design Masterclass

Thursday 6th October at 2:00pm
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Andrew Layfield is a freelance sound recordist and post-production sound designer. He has worked on multiple award-winning feature films, TV shows and commercials throughout his 10 years in the industry. His work includes ‘Blank’, ‘In Another Life’, ‘Tigers of Scotland’, ‘The Tez O’Clock Show’, ‘The Moonstone’ and ‘Oscar’s Bell’. Andrew joins us to share his expertise. 

The Guardian – Made in Britain

Thursday 6th October at 2:00pm
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John Domokos from the Guardian hosts this panel about a collaborative film series “Made in Britain”, a community-based video journalism. The project aims to put people who are typically under-represented in the media in front of and behind the camera, and together make films looking at the challenges our communities face in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and facing a new crisis in the cost of living. 
FREE to attend. No booking required. 

FilmHub North – Showcase

Thursday 6th October at 3:20pm
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Join us for a special screening of BFI NETWORK funded shorts Salt Water Town (Dir. Dan Thorburn), The Barber (Dir. Divya Kate Chetty), The Hermit (Dir. Andrew Coates) and A Snapshot (Dir. John Clark).  The screening will take place in Screen 1 at The Light Cinema and will be followed by a Q+A session with Salt Water Town director Dan Thorburn and BFI Network Talent Executive Ben Taylor.
FREE entry : https://tinyurl.com/yw72pe76

Shorts to Features – Film4

Thursday 6th October at 3:20pm
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Noah is a Development Executive at Altitude, and a producer at his own production company, Two By Two Productions. Noah produced BIFA-longlisted short PRINCESS, directed by Screen Daily ‘Star of Tomorrow’ Edem Kelman. The pair’s follow up short, EXPRESS, was commissioned by Film4, with whom they are also developing their debut feature, DUKE. Hosted by Amy O’Hara, Development and Production Executive at Film4.

Nahemi – Student Showcase & Awards

Thursday 6th October at 4:40pm
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We would like to welcome you to this free event. A rare opportunity to see films from the NAHEMI National Student Film Awards, the best short films selected from our fifty-six member institutions by tutors teaching filmmaking in UK Film Schools and Universities. Plus, a selection of commercials from the NAHEMI / Kodak Student Commercial Competition,
https://www.nahemi.org

FilmHub North – Roundtables

Thursday 6th October at 5:00pm
KUDOS Gallery
Hosted by BFI Network Talent Executive Ben Taylor, the roundtable will give up to 10 creatives the chance to meet fellow filmmakers, talk about short film funding in the region, plus hear about other opportunities available through Film Hub North and the wider BFI Network. We are excited that writer/director Dan Thorburn (who’s BFI Network funded short Salt Water Town premiered at Bolton in 2021) will also be at the roundtable. Our roundtables are informal, conversational sessions primarily for creatives who have not yet had a meeting with our Talent Development Team, so you do not need to prepare anything before attending. Book your spot (limited numbers): https://tinyurl.com/4kekdu8k

VR Talk – Goliath – Anagram

Thursday 6th October at 5:20pm
KUDOS Gallery (VR)
Working across company development and on the award-winning Goliath: Playing with Reality and Messages to a Post Human Earth. Kirsty has previously worked with Documentary Campus, 104 Films and Sheffield Doc/Fest, she joins us to talk about recent projects at https://weareanagram.co.uk/
FREE entry – The Hive Gallery, The Market Place, Knowsley St, Bolton BL1 2AL

Networking @ Unit Base Gallery

Thursday 6th October at 6:00pm
KUDOS Gallery
Join us in the gallery for a complimentary drink and snacks, to network with industry delegates and filmmakers and to see all the posters from the films. 

Producing VR/AR – Katie Grayson

Thursday 6th October at 6:40pm
KUDOS Gallery (VR)
Katie Grayson of Passion Pictures has an extensive record of delivering technically and creatively challenging projects. In 2009 she was one of the first producers to deliver a commercial project rendered entirely in a real-time engine. She has created extraordinary experiences that combine creativity and new technology for clients, brands and agencies including Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Road Safety Authority, Honeywell, Adidas, BP, BAE Systems, Worldpay, Philharmonia, across interactive/realtime CG VR, AR, touch interface, live action 360, pre-rendered animated 360 and mixed reality/Hololens. She joins us to talk about a recent VR project “Laika” directed by Asif Kapadia. FREE EVENT – The Hive Gallery, Market Place, BL1 2AL

Joe Lycett’s “Multifarious Mixtape” with Shaun Keaveny

Thursday 6th October at 8:00pm
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Gorgeous comedian, TV personality, writer, artist, gardener, and lover, Joe Lycett has in recent years also been making some daft films. In a special evening of screenings and discussion, the Brummie chucklemonger is joined by radio DJ Shaun Keaveny as they chat about filmmaking, music, classic adverts and comedy. Screening alongside some of Joe’s music videos and shorts (including his latest short film ‘Ray’) will be a selection of films and clips that have inspired him over the years.
PLEASE NOTE – this event is not included with festival passes (including filmmaker passes). Reserved seating tickets can be purchased from The Light Cinema

Drinks @ The Diversion

Thursday 6th October at 9:45pm
Network
Join us for a few bevvies and a chin wag about the films and talks you’ve been to today, or that next film your making. Our venue of choice is The Diversion, serving craft ales, specialist gins and wines. 26 Corporation St, Bolton BL1 2AN

Sales & Distribution

Friday 7th October at 11:00am
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We are joined by Sadhbh Murphy, a Sales and Acquisitions Director from Network Ireland Television, a company which has now accumulated a catalogue of over 1,500 hours of quality English language programming and short films. It is currently selling to over 100 overseas broadcasters, VOD platforms and Inflight Entertainment companies. Alexandra Gramatke from AG Kurtzfilm represents over 300 short films each year across multiple territories. They join our host Beatrice Neumann of Screen Yorkshire to dig deep into the mysteries of Short Film Sales and Distribution. 

DNEG: A Life in Visual Effects – Paul Franklin

Friday 7th October at 12:40pm
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Two-time Academy Award winner and DNEG co-founder Paul Franklin talks about his 30+ year career in digital visual effects and animation. Paul will talk about the early days of digital effects in London in the 1990s, the founding of DNEG in 1998, and his ten year-long collaboration with director Christopher Nolan – starting with Batman Begins and including the Oscar-winning visual effects work he designed for Inception and Interstellar.

BBC Writers Room

Friday 7th October at 12:40pm
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BBC Writers Room champions new writing talent in film, television, radio, and theatre. In this session, Development Executive Simon Nelson shares advice on writing for film and television by offering pragmatic tips and advice on structuring your plot, defining your genre and authoring compelling characters and realistic dialogue.  

Editing Masterclass

Friday 7th October at 2:10pm
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BAFTA-winner Mick Audsley is an editor with over thirty film credits to his name. In this industry session he takes a look back at his work on films including The Personal History of David Copperfield, Murder on the Orient Express, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Twelve Monkeys. A frequent collaborator with directors Gilliam, Frears and Newell we are overjoyed to have him join us at the festival. 

Editing Masterclass – Mick Audsley

Friday 7th October at 2:10pm
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BAFTA-winner Mick Audsley is an editor with over thirty film credits to his name. In this industry session he takes a look back at his work on films including The Personal History of David Copperfield, Murder on the Orient Express, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Twelve Monkeys. A frequent collaborator with directors Gilliam, Frears and Newell we are overjoyed to have him join us at the festival. 

Diving into the Well – Mocap & VFX

Friday 7th October at 2:20pm
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The world of filmmaking has suddenly, and dramatically, shifted. By utilising the power of Unreal Engine and Epic’s MetaHumans Peter Stanley Ward was able to create incredibly detailed animated films using digital humans. In this session he explains the numerous software and processes involved in the making of his short film “The Well”.

FIREWORKS: The Making of a Virtual Production Short

Friday 7th October at 3:50pm
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FIREWORKS is a live action short film telling the story of a group of UK-based MI6 officers overseeing a security mission in Libya from a “Spec Ops” control room in London. As the Ops Room security monitors fill with scrolling information and drone camera views we begin to see that the last thing on the minds of the MI6 team is the safety of the Libyan civilians caught in the line of fire. 
Director Paul Franklin will take us through the development, design, and production of FIREWORKS, showing how a purpose-built LED volume and realtime 3D graphics were used to create the film’s compelling visual world.

Festival Formula

Friday 7th October at 3:50pm
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Festival Formula will guide you through how best to prepare for the festival circuit talking about different levels of festivals, budget, niches to pick out, submission materials, and how to navigate through festivals.

Salford University Showcase

Friday 7th October at 5:20pm
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Situated in the heart of MediaCity, the country’s biggest creative media cluster Salford’s Film Production degree, develops key filmmaking skills including directing, producing and editing, as well as writing for screen, sound design, cinematography and production design. In this showcase they bring the best of their short films to BFF, with supporting Q&A’s from students and graduates. 

Networking @ Unit Base Gallery

Friday 7th October at 6:30pm
KUDOS Gallery
Join us in the gallery for a complimentary drink and snacks, to network with industry delegates and filmmakers and to see all the posters from the films. 

Party @ Bar 4, The Vaults

Friday 7th October at 9:45pm
Network
Join us in Bar 4 in The Vaults of the Market Place for some movie themed tunes and a few drinks. 

The Perfect Pitch

Saturday 8th October at 11:00am
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Luke Walton, director of The Pitch, shows us in this session how to get the core of your story across with genre and character, how to practise pitching in everyday life, how to avoid pitfalls and how to respond to feedback. There will also be the opportunity to pitch live and receive feedback.

Getting your script noticed

Saturday 8th October at 12:40pm
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Getting your script noticed as a new writer and breaking into the industry has never been tougher. We’re joined by Andrew Oldbury, Senior Development Executive for Red Productions (It’s A Sin, Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) who will answer your burning questions alongside highlighting other sources of support for writers. Prior to joining Red, Andrew worked as a script editor on the adaptation of Graham Norton’s bestselling novel Holding, the debut series of Whitstable Pearl, and two series of Sky comedy-drama Agatha Raisin. He has additional script credits on Endeavour, Holby City and Coronation Street. 

Festival Programmers

Saturday 8th October at 2:00pm
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Varun Raman of London Short Film Festival, Danny Moltrasi of Raindance and Alice Shone of Tribeca join us to discuss the complexity behind the world of festival programming. A unique insight in how the selection process works, what they look for in a film and how to improve your chances when structuring your next film.

Networking @ Unit Base Gallery

Saturday 8th October at 6:30pm
KUDOS Gallery
Join us in the gallery for a complimentary drink and snacks, to network with industry delegates and filmmakers and to see all the posters from the films. 

Drink it Dry Party @ Unit Base Gallery

Saturday 8th October at 9:30pm
KUDOS Gallery
Join us in the Unit Base for our “Drink it Dry” event, we’re joined by DJ Whitey who will be spinning some classic house music tracks. 

Award Ceremony

Sunday 9th October at 4:30pm
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Twenty prestigious awards will be presented with categories including Best International Short, Best UK Short, Best Made up North, Best Documentary, Best Comedy, Best Animation, Best Student and many more.