News

Wheel of Fortune viewers have quickly learned that Ryan Seacrest isn’t afraid to get stuck in, whether it’s his attempts at breakdancing, getting a (fake) tattoo, or now, squaring up to a former pro wrestler. Monday’s (March 24) episode of the long-running game show saw a showdown between “Big” Bill Page, a former wrestler from Wilmington, Delaware, Vicki Brown, a lady who loves adopting animals, from Nashville, Tennessee, and Yolanda Williams, a travel crew member, from Norwalk, California. Page stole the show, firstly due to what he was wearing: a colorful Hawaiin shirt with photos of his six grandkids on it. He then kicked things up a gear by putting Seacrest in a headlock. The host tried to keep a straight face as Page wrapped his arms around his neck; however, he soon started “tapping out.” The fun for Page didn’t stop there, as he went on to dominate the episode,...

BFI’s director of inclusion Melanie Hoyes, Warner Bros Discovery’s CrewHQ training and skills director Rico Johnson-Sinclair and Embankment’s international sales and marketing executive Clare Harris are among the speakers taking part in the UK’s New Black Film Collective Xpo 2025.

Run by founder-director Priscilla Igwe, the Collective is dedicated to bolstering Black-led film production, distribution and exhibition.

The Xpo kicks off on March 24 with an evening launch at Channel 4’s headquarters, followed by three days of talks, interactive sessions, pitching and networking at London’s Rich Mix, and a day of virtual roundtables overseen by the UK Global Screen Fund.

Ama Ampadu, Louise Ortega, Aoife Hayes, Phoebe Sutherland and Charley Fox all have expanded their remits within the fund.

Studiocanal’s Anna Hintzen has joined the British Film Institute (BFI) as senior production executive at the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.

Hintzen will have oversight of all aspects of production on BFI-backed projects. She will initially engage with projects at application stage to advise on their viability, ensuring they are appropriately budgeted and scheduled, and will support filmmaking teams both practically and creatively through pre-production, shooting and post to help them maximise budgets and use the funding responsibly.

“We are...

The UK-based sales and distribution film recently received UK Global Screen Fund support.

UK sales, distribution and marketing firm Together Films has hired Jess Reilly as international sales and acquisitions manager for unscripted.

Reilly comes into the role from Espresso Media International, where she was head of sales and acquisitions. She replaces head of acquisitions, sales and distribution Vicki Brown, who joined the BFI Filmmaking Fund in June having headed up Together Films’ sales arm since its launch last year.

Together Films is currently representing Paul Sng’s Sheffied DocFest opener Tish, and Naqqash Khalid’s Karlovy Vary title In Camera.

Includes producer and former Screen Star Of Tomorrow Helen Gladders

UK’s Film London has unveiled the 12 participants of its third Breaking The Glass Ceiling programme, an initiative aimed at mid-level industry professionals from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Among the selection is Camilla Wren who previously worked on the Fantastic Beasts films and upcoming Netflix series One Day in script and production. Wren set up her own production company Frolic Films in 2018 which has projects in development with BBC, Netflix, BFI and Film4.

Also selected is Screen Star Of Tomorrow 2022 Helen Gladders, producer on Daina Oniunas-Pusic’s upcoming feature Tuesday starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Jaya Campbell,...

”We are forming a new-look team to deliver the ambitious strategy,” said Filmmaking Fund director Mia Bays.

The British Film Institute (BFI) has appointed Vicki Brown as its senior executive for sales and distribution for the BFI Filmmaking Fund.

Brown joins from London and New York-based sales firm Together Films, where she was head of acquisitions, sales and distribution. She was also previously director of international sales at UK sales outfit Altitude Film Sales. She will be responsible for ensuring features awarded BFI National Lottery production funding are successfully delivered to the marketplace and to UK and international audiences.

This...

The BFI has hired veteran sales exec Vicki Brown as Senior Executive for Sales and Distribution for the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.

Brown, who joins from Together Films, where she was Head of Acquisitions, Sales, and Distribution, will be responsible for delivering features that are awarded BFI National Lottery production funding to the market as well as to UK and international audiences.

Her remit will include oversight and joint approval of production funding decisions from Discovery and Impact funds and inputting into and signing off sales, distribution, and commercial strategies for all titles. She will also be responsible for aligning her work supporting Filmmaking Fund titles with the UK Global Screen Fund, the BFI’s National Lottery International Fund, and working with other key stakeholders such as BBC Film, Film4, and other national, regional, and commercial funders.

In addition to Brown’s hire, the BFI said today that a...