PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 INSIDE PICTURES PROGRAMME WITH FIONA LAMPTEY APPOINTED INDUSTRY AMBASSADOR
“Developing the Next Generation of Leaders in the European Film Industry”
London, 4 May 2021: The National Film and Television School (NFTS) today announces the participants selected for Inside Pictures 2021, its prestigious business training and leadership skills development programme. Additionally, Inside Pictures is thrilled to announce it has appointed Fiona Lamptey, Director of UK Features for Netflix to act as this year’s Industry Ambassador, providing support and expertise to producers and executives as they progress through each milestone of the intensive programme.
Inside Pictures is supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and the BFI, awarding funds from The National Lottery.
Now in its 18th year, 2021 marks a decade of Inside Pictures being delivered by the NFTS, one of the world’s leading film, television and games Schools. Building on the success of last year’s online edition, the 2021 hybrid cycle will take participants to the heart of the film industry as it continues to undergo unprecedented changes. Executives will be given the tools needed to navigate the many challenges and opportunities ahead within the international film business as it re-assesses its direction and impetus amidst the pandemic.
The successful producers and executives taking part this year were selected from numerous high-calibre applications across the film and television sectors including; Acquisitions, Development, Production, Sales, Distribution, Finance, Marketing, Publicity, Exhibition, Legal and Business Affairs. This year’s cohort is comprised of 20 participants, representing 11 global territories.
Introducing Inside Pictures 2021 Participants:
- Paula Alvarez Vaccaro, Producer/ Screenwriter/ Partner | Pinball London (UK)
- Ameenah Ayub Allen, Producer (UK)
- Francesca Bianchini, Business Affairs Executive | Amazon Studios (Italy)
- Signe Byrge Sørensen, Co-founder & Producer | Final Cut for Real (Denmark)
- Céline Coulson, Development and Production Executive | Film4 (UK)
- Thania Dimitrakopoulou, Head of Sales | The Match Factory (Germany)
- Nuala Duffy, Marketing Manager | Paramount Pictures (Ireland)
- Karoliina Dwyer, CEO / Sales & Acquisitions | The Yellow Affair (Finland & USA)
- Heather Greenwood, Senior Executive / Producer | Fulwell 73 (UK)
- Venla Hellstedt, Producer & Partner | Tuffi Films (Finland)
- Milena Hemmer, Development Executive | Tobis Film GmbH (Germany)
- Sarah Mosses, Founder & CEO | Together Films (UK)
- Jennifer Naughton, Partner & Head of Literary | RGM Artists (Australia)
- Tracy O’Riordan, Producer | Moonspun Films (UK)
- Christelle Randall, Founder | Christelle Randall PR (UK)
- Martina Silcock, Producer | Happy Outlier Pictures (USA)
- Dario Vecchiato, Head of Acquisitions and Development | Gapbusters (Belgium)
- Sophie Venner, Producer | Taletime Pictures (UK)
- Boštjan Virc, Producer | Studio Virc (Slovenia)
- Ginger Wilson, Producer | Ginger Ink Films Africa (Kenya)
The Inside Pictures programme is comprised of three intensive one-week modules in addition to a tailored project beginning in June 2021 through to January 2022. Modules 1 and 2 will be delivered online, with the second module held within the US time zone to ensure participants can benefit from interactive sessions with industry executives from Europe, New York and L.A. Module 3 which starts in November is expected to be held in person, Covid-19 restrictions permitting.
Inside Pictures will give participants the 360-degree understanding of the global business of film that it has become synonymous with, at a time when networks and strategy are of more value than ever. Participants will benefit from the support of their cohort, and input from top-level industry leaders.
Inside Pictures is delighted to appoint Fiona Lamptey as the programme’s 2021 Industry Ambassador.
Fiona is Director of UK Features at Netflix, where she oversees the content team managing the development and production of UK original films, including identifying books, theatre and other IP to develop into features. Prior to joining Netflix, Fiona started at Channel 4 working on documentary, reality and live entertainment before moving to the feature film division at Film4 where she spent nine years as a Production Executive managing features and short film productions. Fiona’s work focuses on identifying and launching distinct, original British talent and championing underrepresented voices. This ethos led to the formation of her own production company, Fruit Tree Media, creating a supportive framework and structure to mentor the next generation of writers and directors, and receiving a BFI Vision Award in 2020.
Fiona was a Co-Producer on the critically acclaimed Sitting In Limbo which has been nominated for a BAFTA 2021 TV award. In 2020 Fiona produced Debbie Tucker Green’s BBC Film and BFI backed feature ear for eye, to be released in late 2021, as well as the anthology series Foresight, that imagines possible futures for people of colour in the UK through the lens of five emerging British filmmakers, supported by Film4 and the BFI Young Content Fund.
A former Screen Star of Tomorrow (2019) she was also the recipient of a BFI Vision award in 2020, and recognised as a Film London future leader on the organisation’s Breaking The Glass Ceiling initiative in 2019. Fiona is based in London and a member of the BAFTA film committee.
Fiona Lamptey, Inside Pictures Industry Ambassador and Director of UK Features at Netflix said: “After the unprecedented challenges we’ve all experienced together the last twelve months, this year’s cohort will face an industry the shape of which is still only just emerging. Now more than ever it needs the exceptional practical preparation Inside Pictures offers its participants to empower them to lead the businesses, and invest in the talent that will redefine and shape that future. It’s an honour to be asked to offer a contribution to the next generation of leaders and executives in film, and help prepare them to cultivate and elevate the new and diverse voices that we hope will excite and inspire audiences for years to come. I’m really excited to meet this year’s intake and use the forum the programme offers to have honest conversations about the opportunities and challenges to come, and what we can achieve together.”
Jon Wardle, NFTS Director commented: “I have no doubt this year’s Inside Pictures cohort will emerge armed with the confidence, leadership skills, networks and business knowledge necessary to lead and innovate within the film industry as it enters a new phase, ripe with opportunities to re-purpose and expand. As always, a huge thank you to our funders for their invaluable support in bringing the programme to life.”
Clare Crean, Inside Pictures Programme Director of Content added: “Given the continuing challenges faced by the screen industries, the unique remit of the Inside Pictures programme has never been more pertinent. We are privileged to receive the support of industry leaders from across Europe and the US and to have leading organisations continue to support Inside Pictures. Their willingness to give their time and share their vast knowledge and expertise enables this programme to maintain its leading status on continuing professional development and we are honoured to have them involved.”
Inside Pictures receives widespread industry support and participation from many of the highest-level industry professionals in America and Europe. See inside-pictures.com for a list of previous speakers who have generously lent their support to the programme.
The programme is also grateful for the support it receives from the Film Distributors Association, Ingenious Media, Lee & Thompson LLP and Pulse Films.
