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Pedro Almódovar, Robert Eggers and Bong Joon Ho among those featured in BAFTAs 10th annual Screenwriters’ Lecture Series

13 November 2019

Five world-renowned screenwriters to deliver lectures at Curzon Mayfair and Curzon Soho from 30 November to 12 December

The Screenwriter’s Lecture Series is held in association with JJ Charitable Trust

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced the line-up for its annual Screenwriters’ Lecture Series. Taking place at Curzon cinemas in Mayfair and Soho from 30 November to 12 December, the 2019 series marks the 10th year of BAFTAs annual series. The programme of events features lectures from six internationally acclaimed, award-winning screenwriters: Pedro Almódovar (Pain and Glory), Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story), Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse), Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) and Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)

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 10th annual series begins on Saturday 30 November with a lecture from Pedro Almódovar, five-time BAFTA-winning screenwriter, director and producer. Almodóvar’s works include All About My Mother (1999), which won two BAFTA Awards and an Oscar, Volver (2006), and his latest release Pain and Glory (2019). 

On Monday 2 December, French screenwriter Céline Sciamma will deliver her lecture. Sciamma film career began over 10 years ago with Water Lilies (2007), and more recently Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) which won her the Best Screenplay Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Known for his dramatic comedies, Noah Baumbach will also speak about his career on Thursday 5 December. Baumbach has worked on The Squid and the Whale (2005) earning him an Oscar nomination, and more recently is known for Frances Ha (2012­) and Marriage Story (2019).

Robert Eggers will share his insights on the craft of screenwriting on Saturday 7 November. As well as a screenwriter, Eggers is a director and production designer best known for his acclaimed horror films including The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019).

South Korean film director and screenwriter Bong Joon Ho will close the 10th annual series with his lecture on Thursday 12 December. His past credits include The Host (2006) and the science fiction action film Snowpiercer (2013), both of which were among the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. Most recent work has included Okja (2017) and Parasite (2019), in which Bong was director, producer and screenwriter across both.

Mariayah Kaderbhai, Head of Programmes at BAFTA said: “Now in its tenth year, the BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series is a rare opportunity to hear insights into the craft of screenwriting from some of the most unique voices in the world. This year’s exciting line-up features renowned screenwriters from across the globe highlighting that the best stories are always those that are most universal.”

Booking information:

Public tickets are now available for all lectures from Curzon, the official venue partner for the Screenwriter’s Lecture Series, at www.curzoncinemas.com/bafta .

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:

Saturday 30 November
Pedro Almódovar        Curzon Soho, 15:30

Monday 2 December  
Céline Sciamma          Curzon Mayfair, 18:15

Thursday 5 December
Noah Baumbach         Curzon Mayfair, 17:30

Saturday 7 December
Robert Eggers              Curzon Mayfair, 18:00

Thursday 12 December
Bong Joon Ho              Curzon Mayfair, 18:15              

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

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


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.