The panel will discuss the process of DIY Filmmaking, provide advice for new filmmakers and give an insight into the film industry.

Key speakers.Natasha Hawthornwaite, Casey Shaw & Radha Bhandari. Moderated by Louise Wadley.

Natasha Hawthornthwaite is a Director-Producer-Story Consultant and Co-Founder of Northern Heart Films. Her work focuses around championing working-class narratives from the North.

Natasha is also a mentor on the Creative UK Screen Launchpad programme and is the founder of the ‘Northern Doc Fund’. She has also been recognised as a Future Leader at the Northern Power Women Awards and won the ‘Creative Award’ at the Manchester Young Talent Awards in 2024.

Radha Bhandari is a Manchester-based Producer and Development Executive at Public Dreams Ltd. She has worked as development producer, associate producer and producer in TV, shorts and features.

Most recently, she produced In Heat, a short film directed by Rory Fleck Byrne, starring Ben Whishaw, and funded through Film4 and BFI’s Future Takes programme.

Casey Shaw is an experienced Film Lecturer and Creative Producer based in West Yorkshire. As co-owner of the independent production company, Idle Work Factory – her work aims to serve authentic, northern stories for international audiences. She regularly collaborates with the BFI, Screen Yorkshire, Channel 4 & Film Hub North.

DOORS: 16.30
SESSION. 16.45
END. 17.45

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