Film London Launches The London Screenings

Film London has launched the London Screenings in association with the BFI. Formerly the London UK Film Focus (LUFF), the 11th edition of the successful export event will take place from 23-26 June 2014.
Following over $8m worth of sales in 2013, international film buyers will again head to London for the four day event to acquire British feature films and bring them to an international audience. The London Screenings remains the only export market which supports new UK films and UK film companies. It sees Film London working in partnership with the BFI and forms a key contribution to the UK’s film export strategy. The London Screenings is also backed by the Mayor of London, Film Export UK and UK Trade & Investment.
In addition to the main programme and new strands that will be announced in the coming weeks, London Screenings will include Breakthrough, which is now open for applications. Breakthrough offers an important platform for emerging British film-makers seeking sales representation, plus providing a chance for international buyers to monitor upcoming UK talent.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission said: "I am delighted to launch the London Screenings – by building on a hugely successful decade of LUFF we are working with the BFI and our other industry partners to refine the event to ensure it continues to be the best possible platform for UK films. We are home to some extraordinary film-making talent in the UK, and we want to make sure those films and film-makers have the best possible support and structure to reach as wide an international audience as possible. Adapting with the changes to the industry, we will continue to refine the event so it delivers for our UK film-makers, our emerging talent and of course our sales companies."
Film-makers interested in applying for Breakthrough must have a recently completed feature length project of theatrical quality ready for June 2014 with predominantly British content, cast or production team. For full details of the criteria see www.filmlondon.org.uk/londonscreenings. Deadline for submissions is 24 April 2014.
A popular four-day event, the London Screenings promotes British talent, films and companies to the international marketplace. It will attract approximately 120 film buyers representing all world territories and programmers from a number of prominent international film festivals, who come to see around 50 titles. The event generates significant income for sales companies, making over $8m worth of sales at last year’s event. The London Screenings will also include a small number of British films represented by foreign sales agents and non-British films from UK sales agents.
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