Glasgow Film Festival’s Industry Focus programme announced
Amma Asante, Alice Lowe, Sacha Polak, Vicky Knight, Hope Dickson Leach and Claire Pijman are among the guests sharing insights and taking part in discussions during GFF19's three-day industry event
Are you working in the film industry? Or looking to kickstart your career there? Glasgow Film Festival’s Industry Focus, the relatively new arm of the annual festival, is the place for you. Today the full Industry Focus programme was announced, with British Ghanaian filmmaker Amma Asante – best known for Belle and A United Kingdom – being one of the headline guests. At Industry Focus, Asante will take part in a discussion of her career. “I'm delighted to have been asked to participate in the Industry programme at this year's Glasgow Film Festival,” Asante said. “I'm looking forward to being in conversation, and excited to be a part of a wonderful celebration of film.”
Another notable guest is Prevenge director Alice Lowe, who’s taking part in Pure Dead Brilliant, a panel discussing the changing attitudes of audiences and industry alike towards horror cinema. Lowe is joined by Olivia Howe from The Final Girls film collective, Sarah Daly from Hex Studios and John MacPhail, director of the recent Scottish zombie-musical Anna and the Apocalypse.
Among the other eye-catching panels and sessions is a discussion between Dutch director Sacha Polak and actor Vicky Knight, who makes her debut in Polak’s new film Dirty God, which screens 2 & 3 March in the main GFF programme. The pair will discuss the intimate but sometimes contentious actor-director relationship. There's also the ominous-sounding panel entitled VOD – The End of The World As We Know It? which will look at what the dominance of Netflix means for VOD services and the future of filmmaking culture in Scotland.
GFF co-director Allison Gardner commented: “I am delighted that this year's Industry Focus event features a wealth of female talent, making waves both behind and in front of the camera. From established major players like Amma Asante to a host of innovative new voices, this is an ideal chance for everyone in the industry to come together for three days of rich and rewarding conversation and ideas.”
Glasgow Film Festival’s Industry Focus takes place 27 Feb-1 Mar, and the lineup is now live at glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival/industry
GFF 2019 takes place 20 Feb-3 Mar