Award-winning industry-leading experts from the UK and international screen industries shared expertise and current intelligence with more than 200 educators at the ScreenSkills Select Congress 2022 . 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 event that brought educators and industry together to discuss the big skills challenges and opportunities in the UK screen industries was Re-writing the rules: talent and global content.
Across the day, educators heared the latest insights from national and international industry experts about the current technical, production and employability changes in the world of TV, film, animation and VFX. Those speaking (in appearance order) were:
- Sir Peter Bazalgette, Non-Executive Chairman of ITV and industry co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council
- Mark Harrison, Chief Executive, The DPP
- Kate Bulkley, Media analyst and journalist
- Richard Sillitto and Andy Tapley, Co-sound supervisors for Strictly Come Dancing
- 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
- Tim Bryans, Managing Director and Co-Founder, ALT Animation, who have produced animations for Disney, CBBC, Nickelodeon and Channel 4
- 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?
- Suzanne Burns, HR and Communications Director, STV
- Lettija Lee, Presenter
- 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)
- 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
- Hannah Gosney, Company Director, Media Career Advice
- Addie Orfila, Production executive and trainer, former head of production for Hollyoaks and production manager for Coronation Street
- Caroline Bridges, Award-winning TV and film cinematographer, recent productions include Guilt (BBC), Ladybaby (BBC) and Outlander (Amazon Prime).
- Amy Walker, Talent executive for production company Sister.
- Rob Chandler, Chief Executive and Founder,Morden Wolf, a leading virtual production studio
- Stephen Naughton, Vertical Lead - Entertainment, Gaming and Sport at TikTok
- Sara Putt, Managing director, Sara Putt Associates, independent agency representing behind the camera technical and production talent
The event was hosted by national TV presenter, Ria Hebden.
The Congress focused 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, ScreenSkills, said: “Bringing educators and industry together to collaborate, share knowledge and work in partnership is essential to the long-term future of our screen industries. This year's Congress brings this to life and ensures students will have the latest knowledge, expertise and intelligence in the teaching they receive. It means they are as industry-ready as they can be to begin their careers.
“Given the fast-moving post-pandemic world of screen, this year’s theme captures the very essence of the changes that are already here and those of the near future, including those from around 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.
“It is also important vital that educators also have opportunities to keep on top of all the latest developments and trends for their own professional development and networking. Today’s Congress gives them this great opportunity too. We are all looking forward to a very rewarding and insightful Congress.”
