Sessions LondonSWF 2025
2025 sessions are now being added…
NOTE: The filmed sessions from all past festivals will also be available to 2025 ticket holders via LSFConnect.com
Over the three days of the London Screenwriters’ Festival (April 25th to 27th) we will run over one hundred seminars, workshops and networking events for professional screenwriters. We film most sessions, so if you miss one, or two clash, you’ll be able to catch up later online. Get your tickets HERE.
Additionally we are running a free two day online only launch festival over the last weekend of March. You can get tickets for that HERE.
Online Day One (Saturday, March 29th)
All LondonSWF 2025 delegates will get full access to the online festival (both live and on demand later).
13:30 Online Festival Opening
Join the online LondonSWF opening event and get primed to have the most outstanding weekend as well as prepare for knockout main festival in April. Find out EXACTLY what is happening, when and where and how best to use this unique opportunity.
14:00 Comedy Writing masterclass from former Executive Producer at BBC Comedy
Join award-winning producer Simon Nicholls for a dynamic one-hour masterclass packed with practical tools to sharpen your comedy writing and get your work noticed.
15:00 Why Sally Wainwright Is So Fucking Brilliant, with Eleanor Greene
Acclaimed producer Eleanor Greene explores the work of British screenwriting icon Sally Wainwright, unpacking the creative choices, storytelling instincts, and career decisions that have made her one of the UK’s most successful and beloved writers.
16:00 Truth, Tension, and the Drama in the Everyday: Meet Sally Wainwright
Exploring the craft, courage, and characters behind Britain’s most compelling screen dramas. Unmissble.
17:00 Writing Ethical Sex & Violence In Your Screenplays with Lucy V Hay
Sex and violence are powerful storytelling tools, but only when used with intention. In this one-hour workshop, script editor Lucy V Hay (Bang2write) explores how smart writers move beyond shock value, titillation, or lazy brutality to create scenes that are ethical, purposeful, and dramatically meaningful.
18:00 Write Fast. Hook Hard. Get Watched. Writing Vertical Drama That Sells with Isabel Dréan.
In this one-hour seminar, produced screenwriter and digital visionary Isabel Dréan demystifies the craft, structure, and business of vertical series, drawing directly from her #1 VIGLOO series The Blind Bride of the Scarred Mafia Boss and her proven system, How to Write a Vertical Series in 10 Days.
19:00 The Emergent Heroine: Reframing the Hero’s Journey with Kimberley Lipschus
Break free from the traditional Hero’s Journey and discover a narrative framework that mirrors your story, and the stories you want to tell on screen.
20:00 The Screenwriting Ten Commandments Of Chris and Bob
In this session we will share the top ten, the commandments if you will, for success in the screenwriting industries. Not rules. More principles. Flexible guides that inspire. Each and every one of them will nudge you closer to success, sharpen your screenwriting toolkit, expand your network and elevate your personal reputation.
21:00 Online Festival Day One Close
OK it’s been an EPIC day… buckle up as day two is headed right for us!
Online Day Two (Sunday, March 30th)
All LondonSWF 2025 delegates will get full access to the online festival (both live and on demand later).
13:45 Blast Off Day Two!
Join Chris and Bob as we light the blue touch paper of day two and set the countdown ticking!
14:00 Writing The Short Film with Pilar Alessandra
A short film can be a career starter, a piece of art or just an entertaining, bite-sized moment on screen. No matter what your end-game, this class will get you started by helping you get your short film on the page.
15:00 Manifesting Success in 2026, However YOU Define It, with Linda Paige
Buckle up buttercup for what promises to be THE kick ass session of the festival, with Linda Paige.
16:00 The Divided Woman: A New Story Map for Female Characters with Stacey Simmons
Why do traditional story structures so often fail female protagonists?
17:00 Theme-Driven Story Architecture with Jason Eric Perlman
If you have no Theme, you’re “spineless!” Let’s turn story upside down and see that Theme isn’t the high ceiling above your tale, it’s the very floorboards!
18:00 Trip to the Moon: How Stories Shape Power, Truth, and the World with John Yorke
What gives stories their extraordinary power, and how can that power be used responsibly?
19:00 Writing for the Media of 2026: No Gatekeepers, No Limits with Glenn Gers
The rules of storytelling have changed, and for writers, that’s very good news.
20:00 The Seven Elements of a Killer Story with Erik Bork
Multiple Emmy-winning writer Erik Bork reveals why great scripts succeed or fail at the idea stage, and how to build a story premise the industry can’t ignore.
21:00 Perfect Your Pitch: Making Industry Connections That Count with Joey Tuccio
Want to know what really makes industry executives say “yes”? Join Joey Tuccio, the connection catalyst behind 400+ writer success stories, for an insider’s guide to pitching your project and building relationships that lead to real opportunities.
22:00 Online Festival Day Two Close
Whooooaaahhh! What an EPIC WEEKEND! Join us for the celebrations as we conclude the LondonSFW365 Online Festival Launch 2025!
Main London Festival Sessions (April 25th to 27th)
Please note that sessions are being added daily, and specific days and times for sessions are NOT yet locked.
Thursday, April 24th (evening)
18:00 Pre-Festival Networking
Thursday Night Networking and Kick-Off Party
Launch your festival experience with a night of connections, conversations, and creative energy!
7th
09:00 Festival Opens
Let the Storytelling Begin! Festival Opening With Chris Jones
Ignite your creative spirit as we launch into three extraordinary days of craft, connections, and opportunities.
9:50 to 10:10 BREAK
10:10 Sessions — 7th
Inside the Drama Factory: What Producers Really Want
Get the unfiltered truth about what makes producers champion a script
11:00 to 11:20 BREAK
11:20 Sessions — 7th
No Money, No Problem: Writing the Low-Budget Blockbuster with Fenella Greenfeld
Discover how to write, shoot, and deliver a feature film for under £40k – without compromising on quality
The Heart of Your Script: Mastering Your Screenplay’s Middle Act with Ted Wilkes & Philip Hughes
Navigate the treacherous middle stretch of your screenplay with LSF All-Stars Phil & Ted
12:10 to 12:30 BREAK // Lunch Begins
12:30 Extended Lunch Break // Networking
Extended lunch break while one session continues to run.
Speed Networking: 50 Minutes, 20 Connections, Endless Possibilities!
Skip the small talk and dive into meaningful conversations in our high-energy matchmaking mixer for creatives.
13:20 to 13:40 BREAK // Lunch Ends
— 7th
The Pitch Doctor Is In: Live Feature Film Pitch Clinic with Joey Tuccio
Step up, pitch your feature, and get instant expert feedback to sharpen your presentation and hook Hollywood.
An Honest Assessment of So-Called Screenwriting Rules with Scott Myers
Cut through the noise of conventional screenwriting wisdom and discover which “rules” actually matter – and which ones are holding you back.
15:10 to 15:30 BREAK
15:30 Sessions — 7th
Breaking In & Breaking Through: From Spec to Success with Henry Fitzherbert & Lisa McMullin
Industry veterans reveal the real pathways from aspiring writer to paid professional
From Tiny to Mighty: Writing Adult Drama with Child-Like Clarity with Catherine Williams
The building blocks for great writing — for all ages — can be found in children’s stories. Catherine Williams’s methodology show you how.
16:20 to 16:40 BREAK
16:40 Sessions — 7th
Television on the Edge (of Your Seat): The Art of the Modern Thriller
Discover how to create the kind of addictive, suspense-driven television that keeps viewers obsessing until the very last frame.
17:30 to 17:50 BREAK
17:50 Sessions — 7th
Crafting Stories That Shape Young Hearts & Minds with Catherine Williams, Kate Scott, and Addy Farmer
From pre-school to tween TV – master the art of creating content that entertains, engages, and endures
18:40 to 19:00 BREAK
19:00 Sessions — 7th
Friday Night Networking Party
It’s time to unwind and have some fun with your fellow delegates!
The Pitch Factor: Your 45-Second Shot at Glory!
Got nerve, a killer script, and a fiver? Step into our high-stakes pitching arena where speed meets swagger – and only one walks away with the cash!
8th
09:00 Day 2 Starts
Dynamic Dialogue: Pop Off The Page with Thomas McMullan
Transform your dialogue from mere conversation into powerful dramatic action
09:50 to 10:10 BREAK
10:10 Sessions — 8th
11:00 to 11:20 BREAK
11:20 Sessions — 8th
Voice: The X-Factor That Makes Your Writing Unforgettable with Tammy Riley-Smith
Discover how to infuse your scripts with that elusive quality that makes readers love your work
The Real Power Players: Secrets from the Industry Frontline
The gatekeepers tell all Assistants and staffers reveal how scripts really make it from the inbox to the green light
12:10 to 12:30 Break // Lunch Begins
12:30 Extended Lunch Break // Networking
Extended lunch break while one session continues to run.
The Five Character Archetypes Reimagined with Scott Myers
Fresh insights, new case studies, and contemporary applications of the game-changing character archetype system that has influenced writers worldwide.
13:20 to 13:40 BREAK // Lunch Ends
There’s Never Enough Time, Money or Light: What ACTUALLY Happens to Your Script When It’s Filmed
A session unlike any other offered anywhere – witness the journey of your words become reality.
TV Pitch Boot Camp: 60 Seconds to Shine with John Yorke
Get your TV pitch battle-tested by one of British television’s most influential figures
15:10 to 15:30 BREAK
15:30 Sessions — 8th
Beyond Our Reality: Creating Compelling Alternate Worlds
Master the art of building and navigating multiple realities in science fiction
16:20 to 16:40 BREAK
16:40 Sessions — 8th
The Nutshell Technique: Transform Your Screenplay from Situation to Story with Jill Chamberlain
Master the groundbreaking story structure method that helped shape an Oscar-winning screenplay.
The Working Actor: Your Champion In Front of the Camera with panelists TBC
Meet the actors who help launch writing careers – and learn what makes them say “yes” to emerging talent
17:30 to 17:50 BREAK
17:50 Sessions — 8th
Reframing the Lens: The Female Gaze in Contemporary Storytelling with Maureen Hascoet & Guests
Beyond gender-flipping: exploring how the female gaze is revolutionizing screen narrative
One-On-One with Graham Yost: The King of Television’s Golden Age
Join the creative force behind ‘Slow Horses,’ ‘Justified’, and ‘Silo’ as he reveals the secrets to crafting compelling television across multiple genres.
18:40 to 19:00 BREAK
19:00 Sessions — 8th
Saturday Night at the Movies: SPEED Script To Screen with Graham Yost
Pop quiz, Hot Shot! There’s a film on a bus. The writer is coming to LSF to discuss it while it screens. What do you do? What do you do?
Full Throttle: The Ultimate Saturday Night Networking Party
An unforgettable night of celebration, networking, and creative chemistry!
09:00 Day 3 Starts
The Creative Heart: Writing from Deep Intuition with Lucy van Smit
Discover how to tap your hidden creative powers and write from a place of authentic instinct and flow.
09:50 to 10:10 BREAK
10:10 Sessions —
20 Essential Secrets to Transform Your Scripts & Your Career with Philip Shelley
Ten craft revelations. Ten career breakthroughs. One unmissable class.
What Agents Actually Want to Hear From Your Pitch with Julian Friedmann
An industry veteran reveals the secrets of pitching that make agents lean forward, not tune out
11:00 to 11:20 BREAK
11:20 Sessions —
Mastering the Art of Scene-Writing: The Building Blocks of Unforgettable Scripts with Simon van der Borgh
Transform your everyday scenes into powerful dramatic moments that readers can’t forget and producers can’t resist.
Powering Your Series: Building Story Engines That Never Run Out of Fuel with Hayley McKenzie
Discover how to create TV series concepts with endless storytelling potential that keep audiences coming back season after season.
12:10 to 12:30 BREAK // Lunch Begins
12:30 Extended Lunch Break // Networking
Extended lunch break while one session continues to run.
Logline Clinic Live! With Bob Schultz
Watch your logline transform from good to irresistible in this dynamic, interactive workshop on telling a whole story in 10 words.
13:20 to 13:40 BREAK // Lunch Ends
What Actors, Directors and Script Editors ACTUALLY Do With Your Finished Screenplay… Script Edit Live
Live and dynamic script redraft, edit, slash and burn… Only for the brave writers! Scripts must be submitted in advance.
15:10 to 15:30 BREAK
15:30 Sessions —
Diversity Under Fire: Writing Truth in Turbulent Times
Navigate the crucial challenges of authentic representation in 2025 with a panel of creatives whoare transforming how we write diverse characters.
The Perfect Crime Drama: Engineering Suspense That Kills with Hayley McKenzie
Master the art of crafting mysteries that keep audiences on the edge of their seats and producers begging for more.
16:20 to 16:40 BREAK
16:40 Sessions —
Write the Book First: The Beating Heart of Storytelling
Writing a book can give you creative control, build your audience, and maybe even create valuable IP for potential screen adaptation.
17:30 to 17:50 BREAK
17:50 Sessions —
17:50 IMMEDIATELY - NO BREAK
Festival Close with Chris Jones: Launching Your 2025 Success Story
Convert your festival momentum into unstoppable creative energy for the year ahead!
Application Only Sessions
These sessions are by application only. Once you get your pass for the Festival, you will get emailed details on how to apply at the appropriate time. You can see a list of dates and deadlines for applications HERE.
Pitch at the Pitchfest
This is your big moment… Pitch your killer project to professional producers and top agents. Past sessions have resulted in options AND representation! 100% online.
We Will Read Your Script: The Script Surgery
Do you need an expert to offer concise, practical and immediately useful feedback on your screenplay or treatment?
If the answer is yes, then you should apply to be considered for the Euroscript Script Surgery.
Get Your Script Performed
Have Scenes from Your Script Read, Performed and Workshopped by Professional Actors and Directors
The Actors Table Read Will Take Place over Zoom this year.
Legal Clinic
‘The Legal Clinic was very helpful and cleared up a couple of legal points about intellectual property ownership that I wasn’t sure about. I’d definitely recommend it.’
Terry Comer, Screenwriter
Advanced Mentoring Labs
Just You, Your Idea, a Handful of Talented Writers and an Industry Mentor!
