Connecting regional talent to national platforms
These workshop days will break down traditional industry barriers with open, community-led conversations, bringing together regional students, emerging filmmakers, and production leaders into a collaborative brain-hive.
Knowledge-sharing
Local businesses, new talent and established names share their real-world intelligence through and knowledge-sharing conversations to bridge the gap between grassroots talent and sustainable international careers.
This two-day connecting talent workshop will share skills and experience to help make your impact on a national level. Big names in the film world will share the space with local producers and filmmakers who have built their global career from a regional position.
Connecting
Connecting talent is a bridge for those who are shaping their careers with those who are embedded in the region along with people and organisations with a national and international experience.
Day 1
Running from 10am to 5pm at the Exeter Phoenix, Day 1 focuses outwardly on national commissioning, packaging, sales, distribution, and pitching to major players.
Day 2
Day 2 takes a closer look at the talent that is here while exploring scaling up local production houses, intellectual property protection, and the regional infrastructure to build national and international careers.
A networking event ties into the Exmouth Film Festival, showing the depth and diversity of film talent, interest and creative hubs that operate formally and informally in Devon.
There are 50 FREE places available
To apply for your place email info@devonfilmoffice.org.uk
Subject line: Connecting talent
Include your name and a few words about you (up to 200)
** Travel bursaries are available. Get in touch. **
Pitching – hone your skills with expert
A pitching masterclass will give you the low-down on how to make the most impact as quickly as you can for your film idea. This is about style, tone and effectiveness. Got an idea you would like to share or just want to take the chance to hone your pitching skills with experts?
There are six slots available for you to present.
Include your pitch with your application for tickets or send Pitch to info@devonfilmoffice.org.uk
Guest speakers will be announced…
… get in early, apply for places now.
DAY ONE: Packaging, Financing, and National Pathways
Outward-facing strategies—bridging regional creators (scripted, unscripted, and animation/digital IP) with national commissioners, sales agents, and distributors.
10:00 – 10:15 | Registration & Welcome
10:15 – 11:30 | Session 1: From Concept to Commission
How national commissioners evaluate concepts, commissioning realities, moving effectively from short-form to feature/series pathways, and what major platforms look for when scouting regional talent.
11:30 – 11:45 | Break
11:45 – 13:00 | Session 2: The Architecture of a Winning Pitch Package
Masterclass talk followed by practical, interactive stand-up pitching.
13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:15 | Session 3: Creative Funding & Unfunded Audience-Building Online
Modern independent financing, public equity, BFI grants, crowd-funding, and building an organic direct-to-audience digital footprint during early development
15:15 – 15:30 | Afternoon Break
15:30 – 17:00 | Session 4: Distribution Realities & Reaching Audiences
The modern distribution landscape, navigating film markets, sales agents, streaming networks, YouTube, and direct-to-consumer models.
DAY TWO: Growing Local, IP Protection, and Regional Scaling
Inward-facing strategy—scaling regional production companies, protecting intellectual property across live-action and animation, and anchoring careers within the South West.
10:00 – 11:15 | Session 5: Growing Local – Sustaining an International Career at Home
How to get noticed locally, leveraging regional locations/crews, and how boutique animation and film companies can scale sustainably outside London.
11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:15 | Session 6: Protecting Your Intellectual Property & Legal Fundamentals
Afternoon transitions into the collaborative regional networking event at the Exmouth Film Festival
15:30 – 18:00 | Growing your Network session at Exmouth Film Festival
** Times and topics subject to change
