Film London Labs: The Production Finance Sessions 2025
The Production Finance Sessions is back for 2025!
If you're working on or towards financing a first or second feature, this Lab is for you. This lab will be focusing on the financing and business of independent film, geared towards producers, and also writers and directors who want to learn more - all are very welcome!
This intensive, week-long online lab aims to arm you and your team with everything you need to know about pitching a finance-ready project, enabling you to make and defend smart, creative choices and ground your plans in reality. We'll be looking at topics including navigating the independent marketplace, understanding the current Audio Visual Expenditure Credit, how to pitch your project, building sustainability into budgets and documentary financing.
This Lab is inspired by our years of experience preparing producers for the Production Finance Market’s New Talent Strand. But you don’t have to be coming to market to benefit from the training. The sessions will be just as useful for those who intend to seek finance through other means, who intend to apply to the market next year, or who’d just like to deepen their understanding of film finance.
Our guest speaker line-up;
Monday, 15 September
- 3.00pm – 4.00pm: Rachel Dargavel, Producer, Element Pictures, My Father’s Shadow
Tuesday, 16 September
- 12.30pm – 1.30pm: Rebecca Wolff, Producer, The Severed Sun, Grand Theft Hamlet
- 2.00pm – 3.00pm: Antony Swiatek, Lawyer and Partner in Film & TV, Lee & Thompson
Wednesday, 17 September
- 11.00am – 12.00pm: Nathan Adabadze, Senior Investment Manager, Media Finance Capital (Notes From a Financier)
- 12.30pm – 1.30pm: Loran Dunn, Lecturer and Producer (How to Pitch Your Project)
Thursday, 18 September
- 2.00pm – 3.00pm: Isla MacGillivray, Head of Film, TV & Games, Saffery (on the Audio Visual Expenditure Credit)
- 4.30pm – 5.30pm: Zsofia Szemeredy, Founder, Leverage Point (Implementing Sustainability in Budgets)
Friday, 19 September
- 2.00pm – 3.00pm: Anna Godas, CEO, Dogwoof (Documentary Financing)
- 3.30pm – 4.30pm: Partner Presentation - Triple Exposure (Legal, Insurance and Accounting Q&A)
Our past speakers have featured some of the industry's leading voices and execs, including Trevor Birney (Kneecap), Sasha Nathwani & Campbell Beaton (The Last Swim, PFM NTS alumni 2020), Ameenah Ayub Allen (Rocks, Ali & Ava), Bennett McGhee (Mogul Mowgli, Ish) and Nana Mensah (Queen of Glory). Plus Kristin Irving (BBC Film), Delphine Lievens (Distribution Consultant and Box Office Analyst), Hannah Bush Bailey (Doc Society), Gabrielle Stewart (Hanway Films), and Mauny Wright (Reviewed & Cleared) who have also shared their expertise.
FORMAT
Monday 15 September - Friday 19 September.
The week will comprise of approx. 1-2 hours of talks and other sessions each day. Session times will vary to accommodate our guest speakers but are likely to be in the early afternoon. We aim to publish the full timetable at least a week before the event starts.
HOW TO TAKE PART
Please note that no scripts or project proposals are to be submitted.
We will record each session and make the videos available to attendees for six months after the end of the Lab so all can catch up on any missed sessions, or re-watch.
Fee: £70 +VAT
NOTE: We recognise that this is a challenging time for many in our industry, and we have ventured to keep costs as low as possible.
We’re keen to make this series accessible so if the cost is a barrier for you, do get in touch at production@filmlondon.org.uk
Refund policy: Refunds can only be issued BEFORE the lab starts, any additional booking fees are non-refundable.