Screen industries’ experts announced for ScreenSkills Select Congress 2022

ScreenSkills Select, the course endorsement arm of ScreenSkills, has announced its line-up of award-winning industry-leading speakers for its Congress 2022 on Wednesday 23 March. The ScreenSkills Select Congress is supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funds as part of its Future Film Skills strategy.

The theme for this year’s must-attend event which will bring educators and industry together to discuss the big skills challenges and opportunities in the UK screen industries is Re-writing the rules: talent and global content. This follows the success of the last year’s inaugural Congress attended by more than 170 educators. You can watch highlights on this showreel.  

Across the day, educators will hear the latest intelligence from national and international industry experts about the current technical, production and employability changes in the world of TV, film, animation and VFX. Those booked to speak so far include:

• Sir Peter Bazalgette, Non-Executive Chairman of ITV and industry co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council
• Suzanne Burns, HR and Communications Director, STV
• Mark Harrison, Chief Executive, The DPP
• Tamara Howe, Director of Commercial and Operations, Naked TV, and former Controller of Business at BBC Comedy and Entertainment. Naked TV produce The Apprentice and Escape to the Country

• Brian Hill, Managing Director, Century Films, who recently created for the BBC Do Black Lives Still Matter and A Pandemic Poem: Where Did the World Go?
• Hannah Gosney, Company Director, Media Career Advice
• Alan Griffiths, Founder and Chief Executive, World Media Rights, producers of factual television series’ such as WWII In Color: Road To Victory and Royals: Keeping The Crown
• Liz Lander, Production design lecturer, Puttnam School of Film and Animation (Singapore)
• Adam Knopf, Production manager for Doctor Who, currently producing the second series of War of the Worlds (BBC)
• Addie Orfila, Production executive and trainer, former head of production for Hollyoaks and production manager for Coronation Street
• Tim Bryans, Managing Director and Co-Founder, ALT Animation, who have produced animations for Disney, CBBC, Nickelodeon and Channel 4
• Lettija Lee, Presenter
• Rob Chandler, Chief Executive and Founder,·Morden Wolf, a leading virtual production studio
• Richard Sillitto, Sound supervisor, Strictly Come Dancing

The Congress will focus on how rapid changes in the world of the screen industries mean students need new skills to successfully progress into the workplace. In particular, the Congress will support the essential role educators play in preparing their students for this newly emerging future.

Tim Weiss, Director of Vocational Skills at ScreenSkills, said: “A fundamental part of ScreenSkills Select’s commitment to the UK screen industries is ensuring students are as best prepared as they can be to begin their careers. Educators play an absolutely pivotal role in supporting this, so it is essential to bring them together with industry experts so they can hear the latest intelligence.

“We have paid particular attention to creating a practical programme which reflects the fast-moving post-pandemic world of screen and to hear insights from both here and across the globe. The screen industries never stand still and it is important that educators are on top of the current challenges and opportunities this presents to them and their students.

“The Congress also provides educators with a real opportunity to keep abreast of all the latest developments and trends for their own professional development and to network with fellow practitioners and industry colleagues.

“After the success of last year’s inaugural Congress, I am confident that this year’s will be even better so it cements its position as the must-attend event for educators teaching in any roles involving film, TV, games, animation and VFX.”

Conference Details:

• Date: Wednesday 23 March 2022
• Bookings close: 16 March 2022
• Event Page
• Programme Page
• Booking Page
• Price for educators from ScreenSkills Select endorsed courses: Free 
• Price for educators from non-ScreenSkills Select endorsed courses: £75

For further information, please contact Louise Jury, director of communications and marketing, on [email protected] or 07841 496636 or [email protected]

About ScreenSkills Select

ScreenSkills Select endorses and enhances screen courses that develop industry-ready students. Through our ScreenSkills Select scheme:

• Students can select courses that prepare them for industry
• Industry can select the best new talent
• Colleges and universities can grow the reputation of their courses

ScreenSkills Select was developed by ScreenSkills, supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funds as part of the Future Film Skills strategy.

About ScreenSkills

ScreenSkills is the industry-led skills body for the screen industries – film, television (including children’s, unscripted and high-end), VFX, animation and games.

We are supporting continued growth and future innovation across the whole of the UK by investing in the skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the global success of the screen sector.

About the BFI 

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image.

Our mission is:

• To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
• To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
• To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals – delivered online and in venue
• To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
• To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.

The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Tim Richards.