The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced that the latest in their prestigious series of lectures by the world’s leading screenwriters will feature screenwriters Mark Boal, Sean Baker, Edgar Wright, Dee Rees and Anthony McCarten in November.  

Now in its eighth 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. The series is funded by JJ Charitable Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The creator of the series is BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jeremy Brock.

This year’s lectures will begin with BAFTA and Oscar-winning American screenwriter, producer and journalist Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Detroit) at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly in London on Friday 17 November.

American writer-director Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project) will then take to the stage at BAFTA on Saturday 18 November.

BAFTA-winning British screenwriter, director and producer Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver) will deliver his lecture on Sunday 19 November at BAFTA.

American writer-director Dee Rees (Bessie, Pariah, Mudbound) will give her lecture on Thursday 23 November (venue to be announced).

Concluding the series, BAFTA-winning New Zealand-born screenwriter and producer Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything, The Darkest Hour) will deliver his lecture at BAFTA on Saturday 25 November.

Marc Samuelson, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee said: “BAFTA’s Screenwriters’ Lecture Series offers a rare opportunity for practitioners and enthusiasts alike to gain insight into the craft of screenwriting. We’re thrilled to welcome such a fantastic line up of stellar talent to the stage this year.”

Mariayah Kaderbhai, BAFTA’s Film Programme Manager and programmer of the series said:  “The 2017 edition of the BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture Series brings together some of the most distinct voices in cinema today. Together our speakers boast a truly impressive range of credits, with the breadth and scope of their work covering some of the most momentous themes of our time. We look forward to sharing their insights with the public and their peers this month.”

Booking information:

Public tickets for all lectures will be available from 14:00 on Friday 3 November via the BAFTA website 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 17 November

Mark Boal

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

Saturday 18 November 

Sean Baker 

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

Sunday 19 November

Edgar Wright

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

Thursday 23 November   

Dee Rees 

Venue to be announced

Saturday 25 November

Anthony McCarten

BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

For further information, images and biographies of the screenwriters please contact:

Elizabeth Benjamin
T: +44 (0) 7779 081 885
E: [email protected]

Eleanor Pickering at BAFTA
T: +44 (0) 20 7292 5863
E: [email protected]

For images, logos, accreditation, transcripts and more, visit www.bafta.org/press. Images for the series will also be available through Rex Shutterstock.