The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will bring together aspiring creatives and leading film, games and television professionals at its flagship careers festival, Guru Live,  in London on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September 2018. The annual event, which is now in its third year, will take place at BAFTA’s headquarters, 195 Piccadilly in London, and follows successful editions in Glasgow and Cardiff in April.

Guru Live is an extension of BAFTA Guru Guru.bafta.org, BAFTA’s online resource that shares advice and inspiration from the best creative minds working in film, games and television. Professionals from across these industries, including BAFTA winners and nominees, will present industry-specific masterclasses, Q&As and panel discussions, as well as cross-sector skills-based sessions aimed at aspiring creatives taking their first steps in their careers.

Highlights of the programme, confirmed to date, include masterclasses with director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) the production team behind the BAFTA-winning Love Island, BAFTA-winning This Country’s creative team and co-writer and star Charlie Cooper and the team behind multi BAFTA-winning game Hellblade. These and further sessions throughout the weekend will focus on the essential skills required for anyone interested in pursuing a career in film, games and television from pitching through to producing with invaluable advice for every stage.

Tim Hunter, Director of Learning and New Talent at BAFTA, said: “Guru Live has become one of the highlights in the BAFTA calendar and an amazing opportunity for budding and established professionals to come together to network and share their experiences and advice. We’re looking forward to welcoming all the creatives so they can learn first-hand from the amazing talent we have lined up.”

Tickets for all individual sessions are priced at £6 (or 2 for £10). BAFTA is also offering the opportunity for individuals who have already started in the industry to apply for a Guru Live Access Pass and a bespoke programme of one-to-one meetings and career development sessions. For details of confirmed sessions and to book tickets go to: Guru Live London. To apply for the Guru Live Access Pass go to: Guru Live London Access Pass.

Guru Live is funded by generous individuals and brand partners including: EE (official partner to Guru Live); Filmstro (session supporter); Harman (official craft partner); PlayFusion (official games partner); Sara Putt Associates (session supporter); Searchlight (session supporter); Shutterstock (co-host of opening party).

Follow Guru Live by using #GuruLive and following BAFTA Guru on Twitter and YouTube.

Confirmed speakers to date:

Actor/writer/director Craig Roberts (Just Jim, Submarine); actor/writers Charlie Covell (BAFTA-nominated The End of the F###ing World) and Charlie Cooper (BAFTA winner, This Country); producers Julia Nottingham (Kingdom of Us), Rachel Robey (The Levelling), Cecilia Frugiuele (Appropriate Behaviour), Emily Leo (Under the Shadow), Jonas Mortensen (BAFTA winner, Cowboy Dave) and Simon Mayhew Archer (This Country); editors Will Grayburn (BAFTA winner, Chris Packham: Asperger’s and Me); directors Colin O’Toole (BAFTA winner, Cowboy Dave), Tom George (This Country), Jordan Hogg (Coronation Street), Dawn Shadforth (BAFTA Elevate, Trust); casting director Aisha Walters; commissioning editor Greg Barnett (Factual Entertainment, Channel 5); executive producers Tom Gould (Love Island), Karen Wightman (BAFTA winner, Panorama), Kirsty Cunningham (BAFTA winner, Ambulance) and Richard Cowles (I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here); production executive Helen Kruger-Bratt (Love Island); voice actor Doug Cockle (Horizon Zero Dawn); art director Alex Kanaris-Sotiriou (co-founder Polygon Treehouse).

Full weekend schedule >

Notes to Editors

  • Updates to the programme and additional speakers will be available at Guru Live London as they are confirmed.
  • BAFTA Guru and Guru Live are part of BAFTA’s Learning & New Talent initiatives which support new and emerging talent in the UK, China and the US. For further information go to Bafta.org/supporting-talent. On Friday 29 June in Los Angeles, the winners of the BAFTA Student Film Awards will be announced.  Students from the US, UK, Germany and Norway are among the finalists selected from 469 film submissions from 35 countries. The gala ceremony will take place at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday evening (PST). The winners will be announced on Twitter and on Bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases following the ceremony.

 

For further information, please contact:

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