BAFTA/Jonathan Birch Three writers of children’s media will present their work to influential members of the film and television industries.
London, 25 August: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), in partnership with Rocliffe, and supported by The London Book Fair, today announced the names of three writers of children’s media who will present their work to influential members of the film and television industries.
Olga Rozanova, Mariana Serapicos and Amanda Webster – who were selected by an industry jury of writers, commissioners, agents, producers and development executives – will see extracts from their scripts performed live by professional actors at a public showcase at BAFTA headquarters, 195 Piccadilly in London, on Saturday 12 September, as part of the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum initiative.
During the event, the writers will receive feedback on their work from Diane Whitley, BAFTA-nominated writer and producer (Children’s Ward, World’s End, Evermoor, House of Anubis), and Lucy Martin, in-house drama Executive Producer for CBBC, who previously produced the BAFTA nominated Rocket’s Island. One of the writers will then be selected to receive an expenses-paid trip and full delegate pass to the MIP Junior international children’s programming market in Cannes in October, where they will receive extensive industry introductions and networking opportunities, organised by The London Book Fair.
The BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum is a long-running initiative which aims to give a platform to undiscovered screenwriters and help them to develop their careers. This is the second year that BAFTA and Rocliffe have worked with the London Book Fair to support writers for children.
Helen Blakeman, BAFTA-winning writer (Dustbin Baby) and Chair of the BAFTA Children's Committee, said: “We are delighted that, for a second year, we are introducing three talented emerging writers of children’s film and television to a wider audience. We hope that, through the support of BAFTA, Rocliffe and the London Book Fair, they gain the insights, contacts and commissions to bring exciting new stories to the screen.”
Farah Abushwesha, Founder of Rocliffe, said: “The panel really had their work cut out for them this year selecting the final three. It is wonderful to see how this event is building talent in the industry.”
Jacks Thomas, Director of The London Book Fair, said: "With more book-to-screen adaptations than ever before, it is our great pleasure to once again see the strength and breadth of original writing talent in the BAFTA Rocliffe submissions. Congratulations to Olga, Mariana and Amanda! We are looking forward to the performance and, following Alison Down in 2014, showcasing one writer as part of our delegation to MIP Junior in Cannes."
Public tickets for BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum: Children’s Film and Television are on sale now. To book tickets, go to www.bafta.org/whats-on/.
Event details:
‘BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum with Diane Whitley and Lucy Martin’
Saturday 12 September 2014, 16:30 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London
Biographies and project synopses of the writers:
Olga Rozanova - The Trouble with Martha
Synopsis: A dark drama featuring real dogs. Martha, a domestic dog, ends up homeless and joins other strays on the Moscow Metro, but finds home with a corrupt undertaker and his young daughter who needs a friend.
Born and raised in the Soviet Union, Olga Rozanova studied Graphic Arts in Moscow and started her professional life working on hand-drawn animations. In 1998 she moved to London to work for an advertising agency, and in 2001 wrote and directed her first short film that received an honourable mention from BAFTA Los Angeles as part of the Mill Valley Film Festival in 2003.
Mariana Serapicos - The GranDad Project
Synopsis: An unusual friendship blossoms when young Peter, desperate not to fail in class, turns elderly John into a school project.
Mariana Serapicos was born and raised in São Paulo, and now lives in London. She started her filmmaking career in Brazil, where her first script A Hearty Meal won the first Tela Brazil screenplay competition, sponsored by Buriti Filmes.
Over the past five years Mariana has written a number of short films, including 15/LOVE, which was selected for the 2014 Shuffle Festival in east London. In the same year, her script Pulling Chocks was shortlisted for the Bath Film Festival IMDB Script to Screen Award. Another short script, Aquarium, won an IdeasTap brief in collaboration with the BFI. The GranDad Project reached the final stage of the Eastern Edge Film Fund for emerging filmmakers in the London boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Amanda Webster - Hex Tecs
Synopsis: A group of children team up to form the ‘Hex Tecs’ – a detective force, solving unexplained paranormal activity in their local neighbourhood.
Amanda Webster was raised in London and now lives in St Annes, Lancashire. Following a degree in Screenwriting at the University of Central Lancashire, Amanda wrote promos and jingles for local radio, before returning to study for an MA in Screenwriting at Liverpool John Moores University. During this time she reached the finals of the British Short Screenplay Competition and obtained Lottery funding for a short film that screened at Manchester’s Commonwealth Film festival.
Since then, Amanda has written short scripts for further filmmaking schemes and completed several feature-length scripts. For two years she taught the Screenwriting for Children module on the MA Writing for Children course at the University of Central Lancashire.
For further information, please contact:
Daisy Jestico at Kindred
Tel: 020 7010 0834
Email: [email protected]
Hollie Rendall at Kindred
Tel: 020 7010 0829
Email: [email protected]
For images, logos and more, visit www.bafta.org/press.
About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, television and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.
About Rocliffe
Rocliffe created a series of events, notably the New Writing Forums, now held at BAFTA and renamed the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum. It has a popular blog Farah’s Rocliffe Notes which is being published as a book in 2014. With its inception in 2000 by founding member Farah Abushwesha and a team of dedicated volunteers including award winning director Susan Jacobson and casting directors Laura Dickens CDG, Catherine Willis and Kahleen Crawford. The format of the New Writing Forum is truly original – following a public script call-out in the months before the event, three diverse pieces are selected from the hundreds received and performed live by professional actors in front of a live audience. The pieces are framed by especially composed music by new composers from Air Edel and digital art. The event showcases undiscovered talent – a must attend for agents and talent scouts alike; development focused discussions generated by the readings; exposure to and advice from experienced industry members; feedback from an audience and an invaluable method to test out new concepts and material. Given the often isolating nature of the industry, the forums create the ideal environment for networking as well as unknown writers the chance to get their work seen and heard. Past featured writers include James Dormer, Jack Thorne, Josh Appignanesi and Claire Wilson.
About The London Book Fair (LBF)
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Taking place every spring in the world’s premier publishing and cultural capital, it is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. LBF brings you direct access to customers, content and emerging markets. LBF 2016, the 44th Fair, will take place from Tuesday 12-Thursday 14 April 2016, Olympia London. LBF’s London Book and Screen Week will run for the third year, with the book fair as the pivotal three day event within a seven day programme. London Book and Screen Week will open on Monday 11 April, the day before LBF opens. For further information, please visit: www.londonbookfair.co.uk
