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Belfast set for two-day media festival

William Crawley hosts the Belfast Media Festival
William Crawley hosts the Belfast Media Festival
By Jenny Lee

The 14th Belfast Media Festival (BMF) will see a jam-packed schedule of 36 sessions covering all aspects of the industry from TV commissioning to gaming, filmmaking to podcasts and TikTok to composing for screen.

The two-day festival on November 15 and 16, entitled A City in Motion is hosted by William Crawley and will contain a number of workshops, skills training, panel discussions and keynote speeches by leading lights of the industry.

BMF host William Crawley said: “This year’s BMF promises to be a celebration of all screen-based media with high profile speakers from across film, TV and gaming aiming to excite, refresh and inspire attendees at all levels in their careers.”

What are the highlights on Wednesday November 15?

The Finish Line presenters Roman Kemp and Sarah Greene
The Finish Line presenters Roman Kemp and Sarah Greene
  • TV presenter Sarah Greene, host of The Finish Line joins Adam Adler and Martin Scott (The Chase, MoneyBall and The Cube) to talk to Kathy Clugston about creating an enduring TV quiz. 
Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz
Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz
  • Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz looks to the future in conversation with Shaminder Nahal to discuss the current challenges facing the UK’s most provocative public service broadcaster.
  • BAFTA Games presents Bridging Worlds from Television to Games with Ripstone – The Liverpool-based publisher shares their experience of working with Netflix to bring The Queen’s Gambit to life as a game.   

What are the highlights on Thursday November 16?

  • Blue Lights – Under the Bonnet of the Hit Drama – A masterclass with the creators of the BBC hit drama as they share behind-the-scenes secrets from filming of Series 2 and discuss the highs and lows of making a gripping and authentic network drama in Belfast.
  • Podcasts: Uncovering the Truth – Author, filmmaker and journalist Jon Ronson is joined by Nicoline Greer, Andy Martin and Dylan Haskins to explore podcasts' power to unearth hidden stories and challenge conventional narratives.

Read more:

Jon Ronson: Belfast gave me The Men Who Stare At Goats

  • Film Makers Panel – The Green Wave – Kathryn Ferguson, director of Nothing Compares, Ross White, co-writer and co-director of the Oscar-winning An Irish Goodbye and Stacey Gregg writer Ballywalter discuss the global resonance of stories from this region with Sara Gunn-Smith.

For free registration and to see the full schedule of events taking place at The Mac visit Belfastmediafestival.co.uk