London Film School in Cannes to launch new Film Business Degree

The Masters in International Film Business is a new kind of film business degree built to train future producers, distributors, sales agents and executives and taking in business skills, distribution practice and history, the whole value chain as well as placements and field trips. LFS and Exeter are offering three scholarships for the first year of the degree.

Angus Finney, former director of Renaissance Films, project manager of the Film London Production Finance Market and author of ‘The International Film Business: A Market Guide Beyond Hollywood’ has been appointed lead tutor on the programme alongside course co-ordinator Will Higbee of the University of Exeter. 

The producer Scott Meek will chair an Advisory Panel for all Production studies at the London Film School (LFS), which will support teaching and mentorship on the MA International Film Business. Members include David Garrett, Stephen Woolley, Hilary Davis, Peter Watson, Steve Jenkins, Sue Bruce-Smith, Mike Goodridge, Terry Ilott, Keith Northr0p, Lee Magiday, and Camilla Bray

"The LFS and Exeter are offering a compelling, focussed and highly relevant course for future practitioners dedicated to a career in the independent film business," said Angus Finney. "Our ambition is to consistently populate the sector with some of the brightest and most informed players who grasp both current market demands and capture future value."

"The Masters programme aims to combine teaching expertise from world-class researchers in film and business studies at the University of Exeter, with the LFS's detailed knowledge of, and direct relationship to, the industry,” said Will Higbee “We are proud and excited to be collaborating with the LFS on such a genuinely innovative Masters programme." 

LFS will also be celebrating emerging talent at the festival.

BENDS, the first feature from 2009 London Film School graduate Flora Lau, from Hong Kong, has been selected to play in Official Selection at Cannes 2013 (Un Certain Regard).

BENDS tells the story of Anna (Carina Lau), an affluent housewife and Fai (Chen Kun), her chauffeur, and their unexpected friendship as they each negotiate the pressure of Hong Kong life and the city's increasingly complex relationship to mainland China. Cinematographer is Christopher Doyle (IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, RABBIT-PROOF FENCE, HERO).

LFS Director Ben Gibson said: “I’m so happy that Flora has got this great platform for her first feature --she’s an exceptionally gifted director whose films are marvels of precision and discovery. It’s especially exciting because LFS was celebrating an Un Certain Regard selection this time last year for Flora’s 2009 classmate Oliver Hermanus, from South Africa. For us the Cannes selection comes in a year of 130 festivals, 15 major prizes, a Cinefondation residence, a BAFTA best short nomination – the kind of year only a school full of talent can easily conjure up!”

Some other LFS filmmakers receiving accolades for their graduation films on the circuit  in the past few months: a Student Academy Award nomination for THE LIBRARY OF BURNED BOOKS, written and directed by Alasdair Beckett-King,  Muriel d’Ansembourg received a BAFTA nomination for GOOD NIGHT; Sonia Liza’s Kenterman’s NICOLETA  received the Platinum Award at Worldfest Houston, Brian O’Toole’s SUNDAY MORNING  won the jury prize at Une Nuit Trop Courte, Clara Kraft Isono’s ACHELE competed at Clermond-Ferrand and Jamie Chambers’s WHEN THE SONG DIES played at Tribeca.‌