Last week, Film London hosted it's 20th annual London Screenings at Picturehouse Central. Featuring titles such as Sister Midnight (Protagonist Pictures) and Timestalker (Hanway Films), the event showcased an exciting slate of upcoming UK films to an audience of over 120 international guests and buyers.

Film London's Head of Inward Investment and Business Development, Helena Mackenzie, opened proceedings with an address to celebrate the 20th year of London Screenings, coinciding with 20 Years of Film London, before welcoming on stage the outgoing CEO of Film Export UK, Charlie Bloye. Bloye introduced Grace Carley to the room, who will be taking over as CEO from Bloye after an incredible 17 years at the head of the organisation.

The London Screenings audience were then treated to a presentation from Mia Bays, Director, BFI Filmmaking Fund, and Film London Breaking the Glass Ceiling alumni Vicki Brown, who is Senior Executive for Sales, Acquisition and Distribution at the BFI Filmmaking Fund.

Bays and Brown presented the upcoming slate of BFI-funded films and projects, sharing insights and clips into some of their most intriguing and anticipated new titles. Among the titles presented were Andrea Arnold's Bird and Sandhya Suri's Santosh, both big hits at this year's Festival de Cannes.

Bays also delved into the direction of the BFI's Filmmaking Fund strategy: "The world is really opening up and we’re really exploding what it means to be a UK independent film by working with many different territories and in different languages."

Delegates were then given the opportunity to network over drinks hosted at Picturehouse Central.

Tuesday at London Screenings featured a presentation from the BFI Doc Society Fund. A spotlight was shone on documentary directors from first-time filmmakers to more established talent, and their upcoming non-fiction slate of films that have been awarded National Lottery funding.

We had 6 titles from across the country all screening over Tuesday and Wednesday in the Breakthrough strand, a showcase for completed feature films and feature documentaries from upcoming British filmmakers seeking sales representation and international film festival exposure.

After three busy days of screenings, deals and networking, London Screenings 2024 came to a close with a special drinks reception hosted with Lee & Thompson.

That wraps the 20th successful London Screenings and we're already looking forward to next year!