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BAFTA to host 9th annual Screenwriters' Lecture Series in association with JJ Charitable Trust

2 November 2018
Variety Studio presented by AT&T, Day 4, Toronto International Film Festival, Canada - 10 Sep 2018Michelle Quance/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

Six world-renowned screenwriters to deliver lectures at BAFTA in November 2018

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced the line-up for its annual Screenwriters’ Lecture Series. Taking place at BAFTA’s London home, 195 Piccadilly on 23, 24 and 25 November, the 2018 series will feature lectures from six internationally acclaimed, award-winning screenwriters: Alfonso Cuarón, Nicole Holofcener, Nadine Labaki, Ol Parker, Paul Schrader and Taika Waititi.

Now in its ninth edition, the Screenwriters’ Lecture Series exists to celebrate screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed writers a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an audience of film-lovers and their peers. Created by BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock, the series is supported by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

The 2018 series begins on Friday 23 November with a lecture from BAFTA-nominated British writer-director Ol Parker. Writer of the BAFTA-nominated film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Parker also co-wrote and directed 2018’s smash hit musical sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

On Saturday 24 November, New Zealand film director, screenwriter, actor, and comedian Taika Waititi will deliver his lecture. Known as the writer and director of acclaimed films including Eagle vs Shark, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and What We Do in the Shadows, Waititi also directed the recent Marvel superhero film Thor: Ragnarok.

American writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money, Enough Said, The Land of Steady Habits, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) will also speak about her 30 year career as a screenwriter and director for film and television on Saturday 24 November.

BAFTA award-winning Mexican writer-director Alfonso Cuarón will share his insights on the craft of screenwriting on Sunday 25 November. The two-time Oscar and four-time BAFTA winner has written and directed a wide range of critically-acclaimed films including Y Tu Mamá También, Children of Men, Gravity, and his highly anticipated eighth feature, Roma, that sees Cuarón return to the Mexico City of his childhood.

Lebanese writer-director Nadine Labaki will also take to the BAFTA stage on Sunday 25 November. After receiving recognition for her films Where Do We Go Now? and Caramel, Labaki made history at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival as the first female Arab filmmaker to win a major prize in the competition when she was awarded the Jury Prize for her powerful drama Capernaum.

The closing lecture in the series will be delivered by legendary American screenwriter, director and film critic Paul Schrader on Sunday 25 November. Schrader wrote the screenplay for four films directed by Martin Scorsese: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead. He is also the director of 18 feature films including the crime drama American Gigolo and recent thriller First Reformed. 

Marc Samuelson, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee said: “BAFTA’s Screenwriters’ Lecture Series offers a rare opportunity for practitioners and enthusiasts to hear today’s most renowned screenwriters share their wisdom. This year we are thrilled to welcome such an outstanding line up of diverse, international talent, and I can't wait to hear their insights into the craft of screenwriting.”

Booking information:
Public tickets for all lectures will be available from 12:30pm on Friday 9 November at www.bafta.org/whats-on.

As part of BAFTA’s commitment to learning, podcasts of all the lectures, including exclusive video content, will be available for free on BAFTA Guru, BAFTA’s online learning channel later in the year. Lectures from previous years of the series are available now at http://guru.bafta.org/craft/screenwriting.

Event dates and venues:

Friday 23 November
Ol Parker                      BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 19.00–20.30

Saturday 24 November            
Taika Waititi                  BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 15.00–16.30
Nicole Holofcener        BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 18.00–19.30

Sunday 25 November
Alfonso Cuarón            BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 12.00–13.30
Nadine Labaki             BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 15:00 –16:30
Paul Schrader              BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, 17.30–19.00

                                                            - Ends –

Notes to Editors:
Images:

A selection of free press imagery is available from BAFTA’s online photo library: https://bafta.thirdlight.com.

For further information please contact:
Chris Lawrance Film Publicity
T: +44 (0) 7967 647726
E: [email protected] 

 

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For advice and inspiration from the best creative minds in working in film, games and television, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.