On Saturday 28 April the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will host its flagship festival for aspiring creatives, Guru Live, in Cardiff for the first time, in partnership with Directors UK.
The Advice Centre at the event will be sponsored by Directors UK – the professional association for British screen directors. The one day festivalwill include expert sessions, live panels and more, including a Blue Planet II Masterclass, Producing Your First Hour, Craft Sessions in Costume and Locations, as well as individual access to the bespoke one-to-one meetings and career development sessions.
The Directors UK drop-in career advice sessions will run from 13.00 – 15.45, with only ten slots available.
Directors and attendees booking a slot can gain a range of advice, from their rights as a director, film creative minimum rights contract, types of membership or any other specific queries they may have.
One to one sessions will be with Directors UK Vice-chair, representative for Wales and industry expert, Philippa Collie Cousins. Philippa is the BAFTA Award winning director behind The Deadness of Dad, starring Rhys Ifans. She has also worked with Fresh Pictures, BBC Indie Commissioning and Hartwood West in various roles.
The event aims to bring together, encourage and educate talented people from all backgrounds in the region, in a bid to help increase visibility and access to work opportunities for those in those in the region.
Amy-Jo Bryant, Events and Member Services Manager at Directors UK said:
“We’re thrilled to be working with BAFTA for their very first Guru Live event in Wales. BAFTA Guru Live is such a great event for directors to attend, and a great opportunity for everyone in the region to learn more about new developments and trends, broaden their creative horizons and network and build connections with us, and with other organisations within the industry. It’s important that we continue to create and support directors living outside of London, and help develop a creative community through a varied programme of events, such as this one, where they can be inspired and develop their skills where possible.”
Confirmed speakers at Guru Live in Cardiff include: producer Kate Crowther (Doctor Foster); executive producer Brian Minchin (Hartswood Films); series script editor Sheena Bucktowonsing (Doctor Who); location managers Finlay Bradbury (Wonder Woman, Spectre, Thor) and Gareth Skelding (Britannia, Sherlock); costume designer Ray Holman (Liar, Broadchurch, Doctor Who); Katie Goode Creative Director at BAFTA-nominated games studio Triangular Pixels (Unseen Diplomacy); BBC Talent Manager Catherine Morrissey; and the researchers and camera team behind Blue Planet II.
Guru Live is an extension of BAFTA Guru – BAFTA’s online resource that shares advice and inspiration from the best creative minds working in film, games and television, and will feature industry-specific masterclasses, Q&As and panel discussions, as well as cross-sector skills-based sessions led by professionals including BAFTA winners and nominees.
BAFTA Wales/Cymru Guru Live takes place on Saturday 28th April, at Cardiff and Vale College.
