ABOUT
The Festival of Media Stories
2024
We're delighted to announce an exciting programme for our inaugural Festival of Media Stories. The festival takes place at University of Leicester in our Attenborough Film Theatre, Friday 13th September 2024
Our first event will welcome big names to the City of Leicester, and will include workshops and screenings.
Experience stories from various media angles including Film, VR, Animation, TV and Advertising. Listen to experts in their field talk about the power of stories and immerse yourself in our official selection screenings.
_edited.jpg)
Our
Speakers
Vincenzo Natali
DIRECTOR
Natali is best known for such major productions as Splice (2009), Haunter, (2013), In the Tall Grass (2019), his recent contribution to Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities entitled “Graveyard Rats” (2022), and his break-out sci-fi cult classic Cube (1997) which was recently re-made by Shochiku Productions in Japan. However, Natali also maintains a significant corpus of storyboard contributions and other short and/or experimental films such as Elevated (1996), Paris, Je-t’aime (2006), U is for Utopia, episodes of Earth: Final Conflict (1998), Psi Factor (1998), Hannibal (2014-2015), Westworld (2016-2018), and The Peripheral (2022), amongst others. Following a survey of his experiences in the production of such media stories will be a screening of his directorial contribution to the Darknet series (2013) which he co-produced with long-time collaborator Steve Hoban and a cast of other new associates.
John Yorke
TELEVISION PRODUCER AND SCRIPT EDITOR
He has spent years analysing not just how stories work but why they resonate with audiences around the globe, and his book, Into the Woods, is the UK’s bestselling book on the subject.
As former Head of Channel4 Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and MD of Company Pictures, John has tested his theories during an extensive production career working on some of the world’s most lucrative, widely viewed and critically acclaimed TV drama, from EastEnders to Shameless, Life on Mars and Wolf Hall.
•John founded and leads both John Yorke Story and the hugely successful BBC Studios Writers’ Academy.
•He has trained some of the most successful and prolific screenwriters working today, who have created on gone on to write for shows including The Crown, Killing Eve, Pure, Father Brown, Doctor Who, Watership Down, and Deadwater Fell. Alumni have nominations and wins for a range of awards, including an Emmy, Oscar, and BAFTA.
​
His awards include:
•Golden Globe, 2016 – Wolf Hall (Exec Producer)
•2 BAFTAs, 2016 – Wolf Hall (Exec Producer)
•BAFTA, 2019 – Eastenders (Story Consultant)
Matt George Lovett
WRITER, MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
Matt George Lovett is an award-winning writer, director and musician from East London. Working primarily in children’s entertainment, Matt has worked on dozens of shows, including as head writer of Lellobee City Farm, Go Buster, Little Baby Bum and Gecko’s Garage, and has written scripts for the likes of My Magic Pet Morphle, The Sharksons, Let’s Go Cozy Coupe, and Mia’s Magic Playground. He’s also worked as a voice director and voice actor, and worked extensively on music-based kids content. Outside the kidspace, Matt is an accomplished live action writer and director. His credits include writing the critically-acclaimed sci-fi short Mariana 627, directing the thriller A Friend In Need, extensive shorts and music video work, and two novels. In his spare time, Matt enjoys film photography, and writing and performing music in the band Frontier Station.
Samuel Dusucces
WRITER, MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT
Samuel Dusucces is a versatile writer hailing from South London, known for his expertise in crafting engaging works for young audiences. Currently working at Moonbug Entertainment, Samuel has contributed to several animated series that captivate the hearts of children. His works include Little Baby Bum, Lellobee City Farm, Little Angel, and Go Buster. With his passion for writing, Sam excels in making stories that are fun and meaningful to children and adults alike.Samuel’s journey into writing is as unique as his works. At the age of 19, he began his career through an internship with Moonbug. His talent and dedication quickly earned him a full-time position, showing his remarkable ability to break into the industry without a formal degree.Beyond animation, Sam has written poems that explore various aspects of the human condition, from neurodiversity and identity, to meaning and spirituality. He’s performed for Rain on Me’s Mental Health art gallery and recently wrote his poem Wilted Dreams for the homeless charity New Horizons Youth Centre. Although retired from poetry, Sam uses his art to blend the personal with the universal, illustrating our commonalities and fostering empathy for one another.
Steff Lee
DIRECTOR, KINOBINO
Steff Lee is co-owner and director of Kino Bino; an independent animation studio based in Leicester. Kino Bino has been creating content to educate and entertain for over a decade for the education, healthcare and children’s sectors
Bella Tomlinson
PRODUCER, KINOBINO
An experienced animation producer who produced ‘Bob the Builder’ for HIT Entertainment/BBC, Bella was also nominated for a Children's BAFTA for producing 'Pingu'. She has been working on productions with Kino Bino since 2020. Bella is also keen to promote and encourage women working in the animation industry.
Lucy Hayto
Lucy Hayto is an artist and lecturer in immersive media technology focusing on participatory production in virtual reality (VR) for climate change engagement. She has a background in education and a master's in photography, where she explored using technology to depict coastal erosion in the UK. Her work reflects a passion for merging technology and education to address environmental challenges, making her a driving force in the field of immersive media and climate action.
Andy Gundelach & Film Leicester
Andy is the co-founder of Film Leicester and is passionate about supporting and collaborating with Leicesters Film community. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Created by Ten. As a Leicester native and resident he has an ambition to make Leicester a film destination and thriving destination for filmmakers.
Meet the Workshop Team
Book a Workshop
Schedule
workshops & MASTERCLASSES
THURSDAY 12th September
See Booking information to reserve your slots.
Please purchase your £7 workshop Ticket Via EventBrite to access workshops.
FREE Talks & Screenings
Friday 13th September
9:30
Registration
9:45
Welcome
10:00
LUCY HAYTO:
Immersive Narratives: Exploring the Power of Virtual Reality in Storytelling
11:00
FILM LEICESTER:
A New Home for Film & TV
13:00
JOHN YORKE
Joining virtually
A Lightning Guide To Story Structure
14:00
MOONBUG ENT: MATT GEORGE LOVETT & SAMUEL DUSUCCES
Storytelling in Kids Animation
15:30
KINO BINO: STEFF LEE & BELLA TOMLINSON
Animated Stories: Nurturing Understanding and Inspiring Change
17:00
VINCENZO NATALI
Joining virtually
19:00
OFFICIAL SELECTION SCREENINGS & AWARDS
Youth Creative Award (16-18 years)
Student Creative Award (18+)
Short Form Factual Stories
Short Form Fictional Stories
Long Form Stories
Super- Short Storytelling
Best Visual Storytelling
Best Auditory Storytelling
Best Script in a production
20:30
NETWORKING AND DRINKS
​
​​
The
Venue
The main event will take place in the Film Theatre at the Attenborough Seminar Block, central campus.
ABOUT THIS VENUE:
Our Team.
Our main team is made up of academics from The University of Leicester.
_edited_edite.jpg)
Helen Bruce is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Leicester. She has worked as a lecturer in education for the last 12 years and enjoys inspiring the next generation of storytelling talent.
Prior to teaching she worked in the screen industries for as an Editor and Motion graphics designer, and has 17 years experience in practical film making. Helen is an award winning editor, and Screenwriter, working in thriller and psychological drama.
She has directed documentaries and short films, and started her career in TV and Advertising.
Dr. David Christopher is a Lecturer in Popular Screen Cultures at the University of Leicester. He received his PhD in Critical Cultural Studies of Film and Media from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada under the tutelage of anarchist art historian Prof Allan Antliff and critical feminist film theorist Dr Lianne McLarty. David’s teaching covers Reading Film, Film Production, Film Journalism, and Transnational Cinemas, amongst other modules. His research and publications cover such wide-ranging topics as theatre history, apocalypse and sci-fi cinema, anarchist film studies, Canadian cinema, horror film, horror video games, and media in cinema.
Dr. Carmen Spano is Programme Director of the Media and Advertising Programme at the University of Leicester. She received her Ph.D. in Media, Film and Television from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Through the years, Carmen has taught modules on Media Audiences, Advertising, Television Studies and Media Communication at University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, Universita’ Cattolica del ‘Sacro Cuore’ di Milano, Universita’ IULM di Milano). She has reviewed movies and TV series for specialized Italian websites and magazines and her research and publications mainly focus on practices of audience viewing and engagement with media texts such as films and TV series.