FOCUS On: IP Matchmaking & New Opportunities for Scotland’s Screen Sector

Join FOCUS and speakers from My SMASH Media to hear about evolving commissioning and funding opportunities.

The screen industry is changing rapidly. As commissioners, broadcasters, streamers, and financiers face increasing pressure to identify distinctive projects, new voices and commercially viable IP, digital tools and AI-driven platforms are beginning to reshape how projects are discovered, developed, and connected to decision-makers.

FOCUS is pleased to present a special session with My SMASH Media, the Edinburgh-based AI-assisted platform designed to help creators, producers and industry professionals connect more effectively across film, television, and emerging media.

Described as an ‘IP matchmaking platform’, My SMASH Media combines AI tools with industry expertise to help projects find the right partners, collaborators, commissioners, and buyers. The platform enables creators to build structured, industry-facing pitches while helping producers, broadcasters, financiers, and distributors discover projects that match their development and commissioning needs.

Rather than relying solely on traditional networks or existing relationships, SMASH aims to widen access to opportunities, helping strong ideas and underrepresented voices reach the commissioners and funders actively searching for new content.

The session will explore: 

• How AI-assisted discovery platforms may help independent companies access new commissioners, financiers, and co-production partners.

• How digital tools can support development, packaging, and positioning of projects in a highly competitive market.

• How Scottish producers can strengthen pitches and improve visibility for scripted, unscripted, film and animation projects.

• How platforms such as SMASH may help smaller companies operate beyond traditional gatekeeping structures and networks.

• How Scottish indie producers can access their services.

About My SMASH Media:

Founded in Scotland by film and TV producers Fiona Gillies and Christine Hartland alongside digital product specialist Mahesh Ramachandra, My SMASH Media has gained increasing industry attention for its AI-powered approach to connecting creative projects with industry decision-makers. The company has secured investment support from organisations including Scottish Enterprise, Innovate UK and Equity Gap, and has been recognised through industry innovation programmes and international technology showcases.

https://www.mysmash.media/ 

About the speakers:

Fiona Gillies

Fiona is co-founder of My SMASH Media, an IP matchmaking platform for the creative industries, starting in Film & TV. Think of it as a dating app for creative projects.

SMASH connects creators with industry decision-makers, helping producers, commissioners, studios and streamers discover projects that match their briefs and reach beyond their existing networks.

The platform gives creators a free, industry-standard Pitch Builder and IP Protection. SMASHPro

offers additional tools and support from the SMASHCupid team.

Fiona co-founded SMASH with Christine Hartland and product expert Mahesh Ramachandra.

Her background spans acting and independent film production. Films she produced include THE

BEAT BENEATH MY FEET, which screened in competition at the Berlin Film Festival and was released worldwide; DUMMY, which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival; and BIFA-nominated CITY SLACKER, available in over 40 countries. She has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, the BBC, ITV as well as major broadcasters and streamers worldwide.

Fiona is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a mentor with Women in Film & TV.

Christine Hartland

Christine is co-founder of My SMASH Media, an IP matchmaking platform for the creative

industries, starting in Film & TV. Think of it as a dating app for creative projects.

SMASH connects creators with industry decision-makers, helping producers, commissioners,

studios and streamers discover projects that match their briefs and reach beyond their existing

networks. The platform gives creators a free, industry-standard Pitch Builder and IP Protection.

SMASHPro offers additional tools and support from the SMASHCupid team.

She co-founded SMASH with fellow producer Fiona Gillies, whom she met on the Creative

England Market Trader programme, and product expert Mahesh Ramachandra.

Her background spans corporate live events and feature film production. Films she produced

include WMD (2008), one of the first films to follow a reverse distribution strategy, and

CONTAINMENT (2016), which sold worldwide. She has also exec-produced short and feature

films, and received development funding from Creative Europe and the BFI.

The session will provide practical insight into how platforms such as SMASH are evolving, how they may support the wider screen ecosystem, and where future opportunities could emerge for Scottish screen businesses.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION:

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com 

Privacy policy: 

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties. 

FOCUS Business Lab: Co-Production and Co-Commissioning in TV

Apply now for our business lab, focussed on co-production and co-commissioning in tv

We are delighted to announce the next FOCUS Business Lab, a two-day intensive programme focussing on co-production and co-commissioning in TV, areas that are now central to how projects are financed, developed, and delivered in the UK and internationally.

WHAT IS IT?

The lab will provide practical, detailed, and current insight into how co-production and co-commissioning actually works in today’s market.

This lab comes at a critical moment for the sector. The UK television and screen sector is undergoing a period of significant structural change. While the UK remains one of the most attractive global production markets, the way projects are financed and commissioned is evolving rapidly.

According to the British Film Institute, total UK production spend across film and high-end television has exceeded £5 billion annually in recent years, with the majority of this driven by inward investment and international co-production.

At the same time, UK broadcasters are facing increased financial pressure. Advertising revenues have softened, particularly for commercial PSBs, while public service broadcasters are operating within tighter licence fee settlements and shifting audience behaviours.

This has led to:

• Greater reliance on co-production and deficit financing models

• Increased importance of international partnerships and distribution finance

• A shift towards fewer, larger, and more globally viable projects

• More complex deal structures involving multiple partners across territories

For independent producers, particularly those based outside London, these changes present both opportunities and challenges. While there is increased access to international finance and partners, there is also a need for:

• Stronger commercial and legal understanding of deal-making

• Clearer strategies around IP ownership and rights retention

• The ability to package projects competitively for global markets

In this environment, co-production and co-commissioning are no longer niche approaches, they are increasingly central to how projects are developed, financed, and delivered.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Steve Canny, Executive Producer, BBC Studios

• Dave Evans, Head of Development, Balloon Entertainment

• Lindsay Taggart, Company Manager, Balloon Entertainment

• Daniel Donnelly, Development Executive, Balloon Entertainment

• Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning for BBC Scotland, BBC Scotland

• Sophie Anderson, Commercial and Business Development Manager, BBC Scotland

• Others, TBC

Key themes:

• The evolution of co-production models in the UK and internationally

• Differences between co-production, co-financing, deficit financing and co-commissioning

• Rights, IP ownership, and back-end participation

• Working with international partners and distributors

• Accessing global markets and funding opportunities

• The role of studios vs independent producers in deal-making

• Risk-sharing structures and financial planning

• How to package projects for co-production (talent, attachments, market positioning)

• Understanding the commissioner perspective in multi-partner deals

WHO IS IT FOR?

• Scotland-based independent production companies (scripted and unscripted)

• Companies at early to mid-stage growth looking to scale their projects and partnerships

• Producers developing projects that may require multi-partner financing models

• Companies seeking to access UK-wide and international markets

• Producers who want to strengthen their commercial and strategic understanding of deal-making

While the lab is open to a range of experience levels, it will be particularly valuable for companies who:

• Have projects in development or early packaging stages

• Are beginning to explore co-production opportunities

• Want to build more sustainable, scalable business models

WHEN AND WHERE?

The lab wil take place on Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May, 2026. These two days will be held in person at Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 2QJ.

This is a two-day event, running full days, with a short networking reception following the final session each day. A detailed schedule will be shared with selected participants in advance.

If you have any access requirements, please contact us in advance to discuss these: hello@filmcityfutures.com

Applications & Fees:

Priority will be given to Scottish production companies with a track record in making content for the screen. All participants must complete and submit an application form.

Attendance Fee: £150
Applications Close: 5pm, 21st May 2026

Places are limited and we strongly encourage early applications.

HOW TO APPLY:

Companies must complete a short application form at the link below. The deadline for applications is Thursday 21st May at 5pm.

Please also complete a short equal opportunities monitoring form.

For any questions regarding the business lab or if you need this information in a different format for accessibility reasons, please email events@filmcityfutures.com

Creative Connexions: Digital First Content Strategy Across Youtube & Platform Commissioning

Is YouTube the new TV?

Date: Wednesday 18 March

Venue: Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 2QJ

Timings: Please arrive at 2.45pm 

Session: 3.00 - 5.00pm

followed by a networking reception until 6.30pm

Is YouTube the new TV?

Digital-first content is no longer a side experiment or marketing add-on; it is a fully-fledged commissioning ecosystem with its own economics, audience behaviours, data models & creative grammar.

For traditional TV indies, however, entering this space requires more than simply uploading clips or repackaging broadcast content. Sustainable digital strategy demands a different development mindset, production workflow, talent model and monetisation framework.

This session focuses on how traditional TV & Film companies can operate a digital-first strategy & work in partnerships with digital-first companies.

Moderator:

Ashe Hussain, Programme Director (FOCUS), & Co-Director (HORIZONS-2 & Creative Connexions)

 Speakers:

Lara Sword, Head of Factual Network, Night Train Digital

Lara Sword is Head of Factual at Night Train Digital, where she leads content acquisition and distribution strategy across YouTube and social. With over 15 years in digital acquisitions and TV distribution, she specialises in maximising revenue from archive and factual content, developing owned and operated YouTube channels, and building partnerships that bring established IP into the digital-first space.  Lara has been at the forefront of the shift from traditional broadcast to platform-led monetisation.

Anthony Browne, Interim Head of Content for BBC Three

Anthony Browne is an award-winning creative leader dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional broadcasting and the future of digital content.

In 2015, he co-founded the RTS award-winning BBC The Social, the BBC’s first social creator project, and has since spent over a decade leading large-scale multidisciplinary teams. As Head of BBC Scotland Productions and a member of the BBC Scotland Executive team, he oversaw output across TV, Radio, and Digital at one of the BBC’s largest production hubs.

Since 2025, he has operated at a strategic level across the BBC, leading a YouTube pilot project across the Nations, driving the responsible adoption of AI tools across BBC Content, and helping launch a Digital Accelerator in the North East of England.

He is currently Interim Head of Content for BBC Three, shaping the channel's YouTube strategy and championing the new voices and stories that matter to young audiences across the UK.

Mark MacDonald, Co-Founder, Ferry Media

Mark MacDonald has spent the last decade building YouTube and social media strategies for some of the biggest shows on TV - from his role as Global Head of Social Media at Banijay Entertainment, overseeing brands like Survivor, Big Brother, and Masterchef.

Prior to this Mark was one of the founding members of Little Dot Studios, the pioneering company established in 2013 to help TV companies embrace social video. Clients included ITV, Channel 4, Discovery, Amazon and Netflix.

Charlie Hyland, Digital Commissioning Editor, C4 Comedy

Charlie works within C4’s digital & social commissioning team, focusing on developing & commissioning digital-first content for Channel 4’s online platforms. His work supports emerging creators & independent producers in developing content that reaches new audiences across YouTube, social platforms & C4’s digital ecosystem. 

Please note: spaces for this event are limited and Glasgow-based companies will be prioritised.

Creative Connexions forms part of the Glasgow City Council Business Growth Programme and is funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme is managed and delivered by Film City Futures.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com

Privacy policy:

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties.

Photography notice:

Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required. IF you do not wish to be photographed please let us know.

COVID-19 statement:

Please do not attend in-person events if you, or anyone in your household, has had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 within the past five days prior to the event.

Creative Connexions: True Crime

REGISTER NOW FOR THE NEXT IN THE CREATIVE CONNEXIONS SERIES OF EVENTS, FOCUSSING ON TRUE CRIME WITH A PANEL OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

Date: Thursday 12 March
Venue: Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 2QJ

Timings: Please arrive at 2.45pm 

Session: 3.00 - 5.00pm

followed by a networking reception until 6.30pm

True Crime remains one of the most commissioned, internationally saleable, & platform-dominant genres, yet it is also one of the most complex to originate, structure and deliver responsibly.

Behind every successful single or series sits a rigorous process: sourcing stories, securing rights, navigating legal frameworks, assessing risk, and determining whether the material is best realised as premium documentary, returning factual, limited drama, or a hybrid form.

In this session, we will explore:

• Sourcing and assessing stories 

• Rights and legal framework 

• Defining & developing the story 

• Key components of successful true crime 

• Duty of care and ethics 

• Scripted vs unscripted approaches 

We will also examine what differentiates True Crime from other factual or dramatic genres. Unlike lifestyle, history or even general documentary, True Crime carries inherent legal sensitivity, public interest implications & long-tail reputational consequences. It demands heightened editorial judgement, careful compliance, & a strategic understanding of how far a narrative can be shaped without crossing legal or ethical lines.

At the same time, the genre is evolving rapidly. Streamers and broadcasters continue to commission True Crime at scale, but with increased caution around ethics, representation, and risk. Podcast-to-screen adaptations, international co-productions and event-style limited series have expanded the commercial opportunity while legal scrutiny & audience expectation have intensified. For companies entering or expanding within the genre, understanding this shifting landscape is critical.

About the Speakers

Moderator:

Ashe Hussain, Programme Director (FOCUS), & Co-Director (HORIZONS-2 & Creative Connexions)

Speakers:

Matthew Gordon, Executive Producer

Matthew Gordon is an award‑winning television executive producer and factual specialist with over two decades of experience creating & delivering high‑profile documentary, factual entertainment & true crime programming for UK broadcasters & global streaming platforms. 

Most recently, Matthew served as Head of Contemporary Factual at Woodcut Media, where he executive produced a wide range of notable series and documentaries including ‘Becoming Ian Brady’, ‘Murder in the Red Light’, ‘World’s Most Dangerous Prisoners’, and ‘The Suitcase Murders’. His work spans both limited series & long‑running factual brands, combining investigative storytelling with carefully managed production processes. These projects have been commissioned by platforms and broadcasters including Prime Video, Channel 5, Discovery, Sky Crime and Warner Bros. Discovery.

He is a founding member of the Association of True Crime Producers, where he helped develop industry guidelines around compliance, ethics, & duty of care in true crime storytelling. These guidelines have since been adopted by numerous production companies and broadcasters, reflecting the increasing importance of responsible approaches when working with sensitive real‑world stories.

Matthew has been included in Realscreen’s Global 100 list of leading factual producers and his productions have received nominations & awards from organisations including the True Crime Awards, the Content Innovation Awards, & the Royal Television Society. 

In addition to his broadcast work, Matthew runs Spontaneous Media, a small creative agency producing video & photographic content for businesses, charities and organisations. Through this work he collaborates with talent both on and off screen while developing digital content for platforms.

Matthew began his career after completing a BEng (Hons) degree at the University of Aberdeen.

Mark Hedgecoe, Head of Rogan Scotland

Mark Hedgecoe is a senior television executive and documentary producer with more than 30 years’ experience across factual programming, documentary features and premium current affairs. He is currently Head of Rogan Scotland, the Glasgow-based arm of Rogan Productions, where he oversees development and production of the company’s Scottish slate.

He joined Rogan in 2021 to launch Rogan Scotland, reporting into the London headquarters and spearheading the company’s expansion into Scotland. His role involves identifying and developing documentary stories originating from Scotland, building relationships with commissioners and funders, and overseeing productions from development through to delivery.

Before joining Rogan, Hedgecoe held senior roles at BBC Studios, where he led Pacific Quay Productions in Glasgow, one of the BBC’s key factual production hubs. During this period he worked closely with BBC commissioners and production teams to deliver factual series and documentaries across science, history, arts, religious programming and daytime and observational films.  

Across his wider career he has worked extensively in documentary and factual storytelling, with credits spanning investigative films, science and history programming and long-form documentary, as well as factual drama.

At Rogan Scotland, Hedgecoe has focused on building a wide-ranging slate of high-end documentary features and limited series that often combine investigative journalism with cinematic storytelling, aligning with Rogan Productions’ reputation for award-winning documentaries for broadcasters and global platforms.

Recent true crime related documentaries from Rogan:

Rogan Scotland

• Body On The Beach, a series about the drowning of Swedish woman Annie Borgesson at Prestwick Beach for BBC Three/BBC Scotland

• The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder, a series about the murder of a Bangladeshi waiter in an Orkney restaurant, and the subsequent police investigation, trial and conviction, for BBC Scotland & BBC Two.

Rogan Productions Films

• Grenfell: Uncovered, investigative documentary examining the events and failures surrounding the Grenfell Tower disaster, for Netflix.

• The Search for Nicola Bulley, documentary exploring the disappearance and investigation of Nicola Bulley, for BBC One.

Louise Lambert, Co-CEO, Reviewed & Cleared

Louise Lambert is Co-CEO of Reviewed & Cleared, a media law firm advising on all the legal issues that may arise in the creation and publication of content.  Louise is a specialist content lawyer, working across all media platforms including TV, film and podcasts.  She undertakes a broad range of work, from pre-acquisition opinions to legal and compliance support throughout the duration of a production, be it scripted or unscripted.  She also advises on duty of care, fair dealing and provides legal opinions for the purpose of obtaining E&O insurance.  Her true crime experience includes The Long Shadow (New Pictures/ITV), Con Mum (Forest/Netflix), Death in Bollywood (Grain/BBC) and Megan Thee Stallion vs Tory Lanez: Five Shots (Optomen/Discovery).  Reviewed & Cleared also has a team of business affairs lawyers, who advise on everything from film finance, to contracts and chain of title, as well as title searches and opinions, employment and AI.

Please note: spaces for this event are limited and Glasgow-based companies will be prioritised.

CREATIVE CONNEXIONS FORMS PART OF THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMME AND IS FUNDED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT SHARED PROSPERITY FUND. THE PROGRAMME IS MANAGED AND DELIVERED BY FILM CITY FUTURES.

General event Information

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com 

Privacy policy: 

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties. 

Photography notice:

Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required. IF you do not wish to be photographed please let us know.

COVID-19 statement:

Please do not attend in-person events if you, or anyone in your household, has had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 within the past five days prior to the event.

FOCUS On: Strategic PR & Market Positioning

FOCUS On: Strategic PR & Market Positioning

Wednesday 11th March, 1 - 2pm 

Online via Zoom

Join FOCUS for this exclusive webinar with Marketing & PR expert, Holly Miller on how to use PR and market positioning to grow your indie. 

This webinar will provide valuable insights into successful marketing campaigns and will equip you with practical strategies to build your company’s reputation and reach, including making the most of festivals, markets, online and beyond. 

The event will cover: 

• PR & Marketing strategies for your indie (including UK & international festivals and markets, and timelines)

• How Percy and Warren build campaigns around development, greenlight, production & release of projects. 

• Practical guidance on forward planning, lead-in times, & common pitfalls

• How to think about and plan your project’s campaign, including what assets, messaging, talent availability, and other things to consider.

Don’t miss this info-packed session, register your free place now using this link:

About the speaker:

Holly Miller is co-Founder and Director of Percy & Warren, an award-winning PR agency. We specialise in all things film and TV, including strategy & profile raising for production companies, distributors, tech providers, animation companies, studios, facilities, post houses and more.

We run PR and marketing for briefs such as:

• Attracting new clients, distributors, co producers and buyers

• Repositioning into new markets and specialisms (e.g. from film into TV)

• Production and co-production strategy

• International distribution, sales and acquisitions

• Funding and sales

• Festival and market strategy

• Rebrands and branding

• Introductions to new markets

• Internationalising and global business development

• M&A

From concepts to campaigns, creative to coverage, we create ideas which captivate our clients and their audiences.

general event information

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com 

Privacy policy: 

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties. 

Photography notice:

 Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required.

Creative Connexions: Pivoting Across Scripted & Unscripted

Register now for the first of our CREATIVE CONNEXIONS sessions:

Date: Monday 9 March
Venue: Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 2QJ

Timings: Please arrive at 2.45pm

Session: 3.00 - 5.00pm

followed by a networking reception until 6.30pm

Should your company pivot, and if so, why now?
The traditional separation between scripted and unscripted production is softening.  Across the UK, we are seeing more production companies working fluidly between scripted & unscripted, as a way of protecting IP, broadening development pathways, & keeping ideas alive in a tightening commissioning market. 

This session explores the practical decision-making behind a pivot. When does expanding your slate strengthen your IP position? When might it dilute focus? How do you recognise when a factual idea has the potential to become scripted IP (or vice versa)? And what does that shift mean for rights, development spend, talent attachment & commissioner conversations?

We will explore:

• Identifying when a pivot makes strategic sense 

• Recognising transferable ideas 

• Rights and development implications 

• Financing and risk profile.

• Talent and team structures

• Commissioner conversations 

We will also examine what differentiates scripted and unscripted at a structural level. Scripted typically carries longer development cycles, higher upfront investment, talent-driven packaging, & greater financing complexity. Unscripted can offer faster turnaround, repeatable formats & lower risk thresholds, but often with different IP and backend models. Understanding these structural differences is critical before attempting to operate across both.

For companies considering whether to pivot or how to do so without destabilising their core business, this discussion offers an insightful, strategic, & operational look at what it genuinely takes to expand across genres successfully.

Speakers:

Caroline Levy, Series Producer & Consultant

Caroline Levy is a BAFTA-nominated Producer & Exec Producer with extensive experience across both scripted and non-scripted television. She has delivered high-profile projects for broadcasters and platforms including BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky Studios, Paramount, FX and Showtime.

Most recently, Caroline produced the second season of The Undeclared War for Channel 4, NBC Universal and Peacock with Playground Entertainment. She is also the creative lead of BFI & TRC’s International Horizons Scripted, supporting high-end producers across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Previously, Caroline held senior leadership roles at Paramount and BBC Studios, overseeing more than thirty UK scripted productions and executive producing flagship titles including Silent Witness and Doctor Who. As a freelance producer and executive producer, Caroline has worked on an array of successful dramas including Channel 4’s Deadwater Fell starring David Tennant, action romcom Sky’s Hooten & the Lady and BAFTA nominated Channel 4’s The Mill.

Across her career, she has combined creative leadership with strong commercial oversight, navigating production, financial and strategic negotiations at the highest level.

Toby Stevens, Head of Objective Media Group, Scotland

Toby Stevens joined Objective Scotland in 2013 as Series Producer for BBC Three’s Killer Magic. Appointed Head of Objective Scotland in May 2014, he has Executive Produced the ratings success Now You See It for BBC One and both It Was Alright in the 70s and The 50 Funniest Moments of 2014 for Channel 4.

Starting his career in London in 1993 he worked on Room 101, They Think It’s All Over, eight series of Have I Got News For You and was the producer of the first 68 shows of The Weakest Link, before moving to BBC Scotland in 2001. Whilst there his extensive Executive Producer credits across Entertainment, Factual and Events included Comedy Connections, Glamour’s Golden Age, Dear Diary, Movie Connections, The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Comic Relief’s Naughty Bits and That Was the Week We Watched.


Derren Lawford, Executive Producer, Creative Strategist and founder of DARE Pictures

Derren Lawford is an award-winning executive producer and creative leader whose career spans scripted-adjacent factual, premium true crime, talent-led formats, and global documentary co-productions. With over 20 years’ experience, he has built and scaled creative businesses, secured over 300 hours of IP, and led teams delivering ambitious content across UK and international markets.

He has held senior editorial and commissioning roles at BBC Three, Panorama, BBC Worldwide and as part of the launch commissioning team at London Live. As Creative Director at Woodcut Media (2014–2022), he helped grow the company’s scripted and unscripted slate through commissions, co-productions, and private equity investment, navigating the commercial and creative realities of expanding across genres.

As founder of DARE Pictures (Broadcast Emerging Indie of the Year 2025), Derren combined creative instinct with sharp commercial strategy, offering first-hand insight into when and why companies pivot, how projects migrate between genres, and what it really takes to protect and scale IP across an evolving commissioning landscape.

Gavin Smith, Commissioning Editor Scripted for BBC Scotland 

Gavin has worked in scripted television for most of his career having spent 14 years at The Comedy Unit where he started in development and worked through various roles before becoming Creative Director. In 2018 he moved to the BBC to take up the role of Scripted Commissioning Editor for BBC Scotland. 

 Since joining Gavin has worked as co commissioner of scripted series across comedy and drama including Half Man (BBC Scotland/BBC One and HBO), Dinosaur (BBC Scotland/BBC Three and Hulu), Only Child, (BBC Scotland and BBC One), Guilt (BBC Scotland and BBC Two), Granite Harbour (BBC Scotland and BBC One), Still Game series 9 (BBC Scotland and BBC One), Limmy’s Homemade Show (BBC Scotland and BBC Two), as well as exec for many locally broadcast BBC Scotland scripted series including The Chief, Queen of the New Year, Stevens & McCarthy, Scot Squad and The Scotts.

Victoria Musguin Rowe, Executive Producer (Unscripted) & Factual Consultant (Scripted)

Victoria is a BAFTA and Grierson award-winning development executive and executive producer, specialising in high-end true crime and social justice documentaries. Her unscripted credits include the BAFTA-winning The Shamima Begum Story, the double Grierson award-winning Stephen: The Murder That Changed a Nation, and the Broadcast Award-winning, RTS-nominated Love & Hate Crime. Over the past decade, she has also drawn on her extensive network of barristers, law enforcement and criminals, to originate factual drama ideas and consult on scripted series. Her recent consultancy work includes research for the Emmy-nominated The Gentlemen and advising on the factual accuracy of a trial based storyline, in the BBC Three/Netflix drama A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

Please note: spaces for this event are limited and Glasgow-based companies will be prioritised.

Creative Connexions forms part of the Glasgow City Council Business Growth Programme and is funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme is managed and delivered by Film City Futures.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com 

Privacy policy:  

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties. 

Photography notice:

Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required.

COVID-19 statement:

Please do not attend in-person events if you, or anyone in your household, has had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 within the past five days prior to the event. 

FOCUS On: SPVs

FOCUS On: SPVs

With Damian McParland (Lee & Thompson)

📆 Tuesday 3rd February 2026, 1.00 - 2.00pm

📍Online via Zoom

Join FOCUS for this exclusive webinar, focussing solely on SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) aimed at producers and founders who are either setting up project SPVs for the first time or looking to better understand best practice as the company’s slate grows. 

Led by Legal Director of Film & TV at Lee & Thompson, Damian McParland, this session will take a detailed look at SPVs including:

• When and why SPVs are used in film, TV and animation production 

• Key legal, financial and structural considerations when setting up an SPV

• When to seek legal support and advice

• Managing multiple SPVs efficiently for your slate

• International partners and co-production structures

• Long-term exploitation and rights strategy

There will also be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions in a Q&A segment following the presentation. 

About the speaker:

Damian is a Legal Director in the Film & TV Group at Lee & Thompson and advises on matters related to the development, production, financing and distribution of film and television projects.

Before joining Lee & Thompson in 2019, Damian gained experience across the film, television and gaming sectors during his time as Legal Counsel at Wellcome Trust.  He led on Wellcome’s entertainment and media projects, including Carol Morley’s “Out of Blue", Sarah Gavron’s upcoming “Girls Untitled" project, Craig Roberts’s “Eternal Beauty", Cathy Brady’s “Wildfire and Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice”.  In addition, Damian also advised on Wellcome’s IP, transactional and commercial matters.

Damian trained and qualified at a City firm following the completion of his LLB at the University of Oxford and LPC at The University of Law.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

Accessibility:

If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com 

Privacy policy: 

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties. 

Photography notice:

Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required.

ANNOUNCING HORIZONS-2

Submit your application now to take part in HORIZONS-2

HORIZONS-2

HORIZONS-2 is an accelerator programme aimed at Glasgow-based start-ups and emerging production companies, designed to support business growth, and ensure participants are well prepared to navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The programme is aimed at companies working across film, TV, animation, podcasts, radio, commercial/branded content, digital and short-form video, visual arts and theatre, as well as service-provider companies seeking to develop their own content and IP.

Priority for places on HORIZONS-2 will be given to Glasgow-based companies, in line with the programme’s objectives and funding criteria.

Please read the HORIZONS-2 application guidelines in full before applying.

PLEASE NOTE:

Applications for HORIZONS-2 are now closed.

HORIZONS-2 is part of Glasgow City Council's Glasgow Business Growth Programme and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be delivered by the team at Film City Futures.

Announcing HORIZONS-2

 Submit your eligibility check now to apply in January.

Following the success of HORIZONS in 2024, we are launching HORIZONS-2 for 2026. This is an accelerator programme aimed at start-ups and emerging production companies, designed to accelerate growth and ensure participants are well prepared to navigate the challenges of the rapidly evolving media landscape. 

If you are a Glasgow-based company working in the creative industries, HORIZONS-2 could be for you!

HORIZONS-2 is being run by Film City Futures and is aimed at Scottish companies creating content with the potential to be exploited across the wider creative industries sector in Scotland, the UK and internationally.

Potential participants may include companies who have experience of working in film, tv, animation, podcasts, radio, commercial/branded content, digital and short-form video, visual arts, theatre; as well as service-provider companies that are looking to create their own content and IP.

HORIZONS-2 will be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and inclusivity within the Creative Industries sector in Scotland. It will empower entrepreneurs, strengthen the ecosystem, and position Scotland as a dynamic hub for media production and innovation, ultimately benefitting the cultural, economic, and creative landscape and enabling companies to compete effectively at an international level.

The project offers:

• Skills development

• Ideas exchange and collaboration

• Access to expert guidance

• Greater levels of innovation

• Greater access to non-public funding channels

• Increased visibility for Scottish entrepreneurs

• Networking opportunities with established business and creative companies

12 - 14 companies will be selected, and HORIZONS-2 will run from January – March 2026. The programme will consist of a series of seminars and workshops delivered over 6 to 8 days in total, led by senior executives and trainers from across the creative industries.

Each participating company will be assigned two mentors for the duration of the programme: one to focus on company business/leadership, and the other on creativity, development, and innovation.

The programme provides a safe and supportive space for participants to have discussion with seminar leads and peers, enabling participants to build networks, exploring synergies and identify potential collaborations.

We particularly encourage diverse-led companies to apply. By diverse-led we mean companies that have Heads/MDs of the company with diverse backgrounds, as well as companies that can demonstrate strong EDI approaches, systems and voices through their work, processes and access.

How to apply:

To check your eligibility for the Programme please see criteria here:

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/5656/Glasgow-Business-Growth-Phase-3

Applications will be done in two stages.

Stage 1 – To check eligibility please complete Glasgow Business Growth Application Form: 

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/5653/Glasgow-Business-Growth-Application-Form

Please have the following documents ready before starting the form:

·       Proof of trading address

·       Copy of lease (if business not liable for Non-Domestic Rates)

·       Any other relevant supporting information

Stage 2 - applications for HORIZONS-2:

This will open in early January, with a link to the Guidelines, our HORIZONS-2 Application Form and EDI Monitoring Form. FYI - These completed applications will be required around mid-January. Please ensure you complete the form above ASAP in order to be able to apply in January.

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 For questions about the HORIZONS-2 programme, please contact hello@filmcityfutures.com

HORIZONS-2 is part of Glasgow City Council's Glasgow Business Growth Programme and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be delivered by the team at Film City Futures.

The Final Cut: 2025 in Review, 2026 in Focus

The Final Cut: 2025 in Review, 2026 in Focus

join focus for our final event of 2025, a talk from k7’s clare thompson analysing trends, failures and opportunities in the screen sector, followed by festive networking drinks.

📆 Wednesday 10th December 2025, 4.00 - 5.15pm

📍 Film City Glasgow, 401 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 2QJ

After another challenging year for the screen sector, K7 Media's Clare Thompson will outline the key viewing, content, tech, financial trends that shaped and impacted us all in 2025 and highlight the practical opportunities indie should be aware of in the UK and globally in 2026.  This special FOCUS seminar will look at what has shaped all sectors of the industry in the last 12 months, who has thrived or struggled, plus strategies for success going forward.

From shifts in commissioning priorities to emerging buyers, evolving funding models, new tech tools and fresh revenue sources across scripted and non-scripted, this session from FOCUS offers a clear snapshot of where we stand now and where our strategies should be for next year to ensure we have a successful and sustainable Scottish indie sector.

As well as offering invaluable insights into the industry and a chance to look at the year in review across the sector for indies and producers, this talk event will be followed by festive networking drinks. We hope to see you there!

About the speaker: 

Clare Thompson is Non-Executive Director of the UK’s leading TV consultancy K7 Media, regularly writing and presenting on global content trends, the international non-scripted formats market and branded entertainment for their broadcast and production clients around the world. She spent her early career producing and developing entertainment and reality, much of it at ITV, where she ran the company’s in-house development team for several years. Since then, Clare has helped TV companies big and small to hone their ideas and creative strategy, running development and pitching workshops, team training sessions and channel commissioning projects for broadcasters and indies, including via Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund and Indielab in the UK, and internationally in the US, Europe and Asia.

General Information:

Accessibility:

This event will be held in the seminar room at Film City Glasgow which has step free access and is wheelchair accessible. The area for networking drinks after the talk will be held in the cafe. Accessible toilets are available in the venue. If you have any further accessibility requirements, please contact the FOCUS team in advance: hello@filmcityfutures.com

Privacy policy:

By booking this event you consent to FOCUS & Film City Futures storing your contact details. Please note: we will only ever contact you via email regarding FOCUS events and will not share your confidential information with any external third parties.

Photography notice:

Please be aware that we may take photographs and videos at this event. By attending and/ or participating in this event, you agree for us to photograph and/ or video record you and to use such images and recordings on our website, social media and other platforms as required.

COVID-19 statement:

Please do not attend in-person events if you, or anyone in your household, has had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 within the past five days prior to the event.

If you have any access requirements for attending this event, please contact us: hello@filmcityfutures.com