Speakers
We are assembling the GREATEST roster of screenwriting speakers for our 2026 programme!
The London Screenwriters’ Festival will host around professional speakers from all areas of the film and television business. Many have also agreed to intimate online Script Chats after their respective sessions so that you can get facetime with them. Although speakers are being added continuously, the vast majority will be confirmed in the spring of 2026. Get updates by signing up below.
The Ever Growing 2025 Line Up
Speakers will trickle into the schedule in the run-up to the festival, so make sure to check back every so often so you can plan your festival!
Headliners For London Onstage
Graham Yost // Emmy Award-winning Writer, Showrunner, and Producer
From “Speed” to “Silo,” Emmy-winner Graham Yost crafts genre-defining hits that revolutionize both the big and smaller screens.
Online Launch Festival Speakers (March 29th and 30th)
All LondonSWF 2025 delegates will get full access to the online festival (both live and on demand later).
Corey Mandell // Screenwriting Instructor & Award-Winning Writer
Corey Mandell empowers screenwriters through innovative creative techniques, mentoring talent behind some of Hollywood’s biggest shows and films.
Eleanor Greene // Executive Producer
BAFTA-nominated executive producer with 25+ years’ experience developing and producing award-winning scripted TV and film across genres.
Erik Bork // Screenwriter
Erik Bork is an Emmy- and Golden Globe–winning screenwriter (Band of Brothers) and author of The Idea, known for helping writers build story concepts that succeed on both the page and in the marketplace.
Glenn Gers // Screenwriter
Glenn Gers is an Emmy-winning screenwriter, director, and educator with over 25 years of professional experience writing for film, television, and audio.
Isabel Drean // Screenwriter and Digital Visionary
After beginning her career in horror and psychological thrillers, Isabel pivoted to holiday films, with five Christmas features produced in just 18 months, including Secret Santa, Christmas Beneath the Stars, and The Holiday Swap. Isabel is now known as being an expert in Vertical Drama.
Jack Zhang // Founder & CEO of Greenlight Coverage
Jack Zhang harnesses artificial intelligence to revolutionize script development and analysis for the film and television industry.
Jason Eric Perlman // Screenwriter and Director
Jason Eric Perlman is a filmmaker and screenwriter specializing in smart, high-stakes thrillers for film and television.
Jason Headley // Filmmaker and Screenwriter
Jason Headley, co-writer of Pixar’s Lightyear & Onward, creates award-winning films across mulitple platforms and viral content for brands like Heineken and Sony.
Joey Tuccio // CEO & Co-Founder of Roadmap Writers
Joey Tuccio, CEO of Roadmap Writers, has helped 380+ writers break into the industry, securing deals with top agencies like CAA and projects with Warner Bros., Netflix, and Hulu.
Katja Meier // Screenwriter and Producer
Katja Meier is a screenwriter and producer who founded Zenka Films to challenge industry ageism and create opportunities for women over 50 in film and television.
Kim Hudson // Author, Storyteller, and Archetype Theorist
Kim Hudson, creator of the Virgin’s Promise framework, challenges storytelling norms with her unique approach to feminine narratives.
Kimberley Lipschus // Screenwriter, Trainer and Psychotherapist
Kimberley champions inclusive, embodied storytelling, helping writers access the deeper truth of their stories.
Lauren Pizzicaroli // Script Consultant and Festival Strategist
Elevate your script’s potential with Lauren Pizzicaroli: expert consulting, festival strategy, and insider industry insight to help you succeed.
Linda Paige // Confidence Coach and Actual Wonder Woman
Linda is a Confidence & Life Coach for creative women, helping them rise, be seen, and get paid by aligning mindset, identity, and personal style.
Michael Arndt // Oscar-winning Screenwriter
Join Academy Award-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Toy Story 3”) as he shares insights from his journey behind iconic films.
Philip Dodds // Lumo TV Drama Commissioner & Writer-Producer
Tom Vaughan is a veteran screenwriter with nearly thirty years of industry experience, writing for major studios including Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Disney, and Castle Rock Entertainment.
Pilar Alessandra // Script Consultant and Writing Instructor
Pilar Alessandra is a renowned Hollywood script consultant and author of “The Coffee Break Screenwriter.” She is also a LondonSWF Legend and considered Royalty to us!
Sally Wainwright // Screenwriter
Sally Wainwright OBE is an award-winning writer, producer and director from Yorkshire, best known for Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Gentleman Jack and Scott & Bailey. A multiple BAFTA-winning drama writer, her work is celebrated for its emotional depth, sharp wit and fearless female characters.
Shari Simpson // Screenwriter and Author
Shari Simpson, screenwriter of 1% Better and The Swap, crafts hit films and books, with projects at Netflix and Hallmark Channel.
Simon Nicholls // Screenwriter
Award-winning comedy producer and mentor Simon Nicholls brings two decades of BBC and indie expertise to developing standout TV, audio, and new writing talent.
Stacey Simmons // Therapist and Story Analyst
Psychotherapist and former animation professional who helps writers move beyond the Hero’s Journey to craft powerful, sovereign female stories.
Steve Harper // Television Writer, Playwright and Storyteller
As an actor turned writer, Harper brings a unique perspective to storytelling, having appeared in numerous television shows including “Law & Order SVU,” “90210,” and “Rescue Me.”
Steve Kaplan // Comedy Expert and Writing Instructor
Steve Kaplan is one of the industry’s most respected comedy experts and author of the bestselling “The Hidden Tools of Comedy” and “The Comic Hero’s Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films.”
Screenwriters
Frank Spotnitz // Writer & Executive Producer
Frank transforms international television through groundbreaking series spanning science fiction, drama, and historical epics, from The X-Files to The Man in the High Castle.
Nicola May // Bestselling Author & Independent Publishing Advocate
Nicola champions independent publishing while creating bestselling romantic comedies that capture readers’ hearts and imagination.
Tom Mead // Author
Tom Mead revives the Golden Age detective tradition through his acclaimed Joseph Spector mysteries, blending classic locked-room puzzles with theatrical flair.
Thomas McMullan // Writer and Trainer
Thomas crafts narratives across multiple mediums, from award-winning novels to BAFTA-winning video games, while pushing creative boundaries in each form.
Gemma Mushington // Writer and Trainer
Gemma is a screenwriter from East London and screenwriting module leader at Central Film School.
Peter Harness // Television Writer & Screenwriter
Peter Harness creates boundary-pushing television from sci-fi epics to literary adaptations, with credits spanning Doctor Who, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and the psychological space thriller Constellation.
Lucy van Smit // Writer and Broadcaster
Lucy van Smit is an award-winning author, artist, and former documentary arts producer with a career spanning NBC News and Canadian Broadcasting.
Kate Scott // Head Writer, Scriptwriter, and Children’s Author
Kate Scott is a versatile creative force in children’s entertainment, working for major networks including Disney, Netflix, and CBeebies.
Steve Thompson // Screenwriter and Playwright
Currently, Steve is working on the Apple TV thriller “Prime Target” starring Leo Woodhall and developing the Guy Ritchie series “Young Sherlock” for Amazon.
Pat Higgins // Independent Filmmaker and Screenwriter
Pat Higgins is an acclaimed writer/director known for his indie films, creative expertise, and proven filmmaking success.
Marcus Markou // Independent Filmmaker and Distributor
Marcus Markou is a writer, director, and producer known for his innovative indie films and empowering emerging filmmakers.
Henry Fitzherbert // Screenwriter and Journalist
Henry Fitzherbert co-wrote Netflix’s Wyatt Earp And The Cowboy War, a global hit, and penned record-breaking films like Born A King.
Lisa McMullin // Television and Film Screenwriter
Lisa McMullin, award-winning writer of Death in Paradise and Hear Me Roar, crafts impactful stories for film, TV, and audio.
Catherine Williams // Children’s TV Series Creator and Screenwriter
Catherine Williams, BAFTA-winning screenwriter, has crafted iconic kids’ TV shows like Pocoyo and Shaun the Sheep, with Piggy Builders premiering in 2025.
Industry Players
Julian Wilkins // Lawyer
Julian Wilkins is Editorial Director for Blue Pencil Media Limited and will be running the legal clinic at the festival.
Georgina Boote // Television Development Executive
Georgina Boote is a television development executive with experience at the BBC, Euston Films, See Saw Films and more.
Fenella Greenfield // Filmmaker, Writer, and Script Development Executive
Founder member of Euroscript, writer/director of two films, and award-winning radio drama writer.
Samantha Horley // Writer and Script Consultant
Sam has 20 years’ experience in international film sales, development, production and marketing. Credits include Executive Producer on Grabbers, Miss You Already.
John Yorke // Consultant, Course Director (Into The Story), Narrative Expert
Discover the UK’s leading story expert, John Yorke, creator of Into the Woods and mentor to Emmy and BAFTA winners. Gain valuable insights into great storytelling.
Julian Friedmann // Literary Agent and Publisher
Julian Friedmann, co-owner of Blake Friedmann Literary Agency, mentors screenwriters and authors, shaping TV and film careers worldwide.
Actors
People Who Know Stuff
Kira-Anne Pelican // Character Development Expert & Author
Kira-Anne Pelican blends psychology and screenwriting to help writers create deeper, more compelling characters for film and television.
Tammy Riley-Smith // Senior Screenwriting Tutor at NFTS & Award-Winning Filmmaker
Tammy Riley-Smith shapes new screenwriting talent while crafting award-winning films that span from Working Title classics to independent features.
Ted Wilkes // Screenwriter, Author, and Trainer
Ted Wilkes is a genre fiction and feature writer whose screenplay “Fulfilment” is under option at BAFTA-nominated Ardimages UK and in development with Stigma Films.
Phil Hughes // Screenwriter and Author
Phil is a screenwriter whose work spans film and TV, with two feature films and several television credits under his belt. He’s also the co-author of ‘Character is Structure: The Insider’s Guide to Screenwriting’.
Thandi Lubimbi // Screenwriter and Author
Thandi Lubimbi is a screenwriter, author and barrister, and towering voice in the campaign for DEI in creative industries
Philip Shelley // Script Development Executive and Producer
Philip Shelley has spent three decades shaping British television through script development and writer mentorship as leader of the prestigious Channel 4 screenwriting course.
Simon van der Borgh // Screenwriter, Teacher, and Script Consultant
A veteran screenwriter, educator, book author and script consultant with a 30-year career spanning multiple continents.
Jill Chamberlain // Screenwriting Expert and Author
Jill Chamberlain is a renowned screenwriting instructor and consultant, and author of the acclaimed book “The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret to Successful Screenwriting.” Her innovative story structure method has been adopted by major institutions including Columbia University and UCLA, and has been translated into multiple languages.
Steve Kaplan // Comedy Expert and Writing Instructor
Steve Kaplan is one of the industry’s most respected comedy experts and author of the bestselling “The Hidden Tools of Comedy” and “The Comic Hero’s Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films.”
Scott Myers // Screenwriter, Blogger, and Educator
Scott Myers, screenwriter with 30+ Hollywood credits, best-selling author of The Protagonist’s Journey, and host of GoIntoTheStory, inspires writers globally.
Hayley McKenzie // Development Executive and Script Training Pioneer
Hayley McKenzie, CEO of Script Angel, empowers writers globally, bridging talent to industry with 30+ years of expertise.
Vicki Jung // Script Editor
Vicki, a freelance script editor with 25+ years’ experience, develops feature films for UK and global markets.
Lucy V Hay // Script Editor and Author
Lucy V. Hay, script editor, author, and Bang2write blogger, helps writers craft sellable stories for film, TV, and digital media.
Chris Jones // LSF Founder, Filmmaker, Author
Chris Jones, Splinter Unit Director on Mission: Impossible 7 & 8, is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and creative mentor empowering storytellers worldwide.
Bob Schultz // Writer, Producer and Instructor
Bob Schultz is a screenwriter, producer, and 20-year instructor & mentor, known for his work on four produced films, dozens of screenplays, and as an educator worldwide.
Moderators
Lucy Linger // Director, Writer, and Producer
Lucy Linger is a dynamic director, writer, and producer with a multifaceted career across film, TV, and theatre.
Sarah B. Williams // Screenwriter and Lecturer
Sarah is a screenwriter, producer and musician whose screenplay Across The Line has been optioned by Cannibal Films with director Francis Annan (Escape From Pretoria) attached.
Maureen Hascoet // Filmmaker and Scottish Screenwriters Festival Founder
She has made movies, run festivals, worked with the biggest names and is on a mission to platform the Scottish grass roots film industry.
Addy Farmer // Children’s Author and Screenwriter
Award-winning children’s author who has books with Walker, Random House, and Hachette. Her latest series explores ecological themes through children’s fascination with the icky.
Judith Bunting // Producer and Screenwriter
Judith Bunting is a screenwriter with a flair for captivating narratives, whose work builds on 15years directing documentaries, producing series, and running creative teams for BBC Factual.
Izzy Power // Presenter & Writer
Izzy Power is an Australian presenter, writer & advocate for neurodiverse creatives.
Elinor Perry-Smith // Writer, Poet, Proofreader, Editor
Elinor, a talented writer, poet, and editor, serves as a mentor at Talent Campus and judges top script awards.
