The London Film Festival’s series of Big Picture sessions will explore how the industry is adapting to disruption and change, from production to reaching audiences and across film, high-end television, streamers and in the immersive world. Leading international and UK figures in the industry will discuss the challenges, opportunities across the international sales, distribution, festival and emerging high-end television landscape and explore how these sectors move forwards over the next few years.
Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Directorsaid: "This year’s LFF industry programme tunes into the fact that the
film, TV and wider screen industries are experiencing huge global change, and that UK businesses are continuing to
seek international collaborations despite uncertainty. We wanted to offer a platform for urgent conversations about
those industry changes, and how we are adapting."
International Film Festival Rotterdam. Image: IFFR
The festival circuit currently finds itself in a moment of flux, with a widespread changing of the guard at the top level. It is also facing challenges to its traditional role in the distribution ecosystem as deep-pocketed streamers disrupt the traditional acquisitions markets at festivals, and with the emergence of new platforms including Apple+, HBO Max, Quibi and Disney+ over the coming year, premium content will increasingly be able to find its way directly to audiences on a variety of platforms, without having to rely on a traditional festival-theatrical-distribution model. There are urgent questions about the role that festivals play as gatekeepers and ensuring a more diverse range of voices are heard. Kate Taylor, LFF Senior Programmer, moderates Key Questions Facing the Festival Circuit (in Vue 6, at 15:30 on 7/10/19) with Giona Nazzaro, General Delegate, Venice International Film Critics’ Week; Inge de Leeuw, Programmer, International Film Festival Rotterdam; and Mariette Rissenbeek, Executive Director, Berlinale.
