David S. Goyer, Gillian Anderson and Matthew Macfadyen to take part in series of panels, masterclasses and screenings in first ever BBC Worldwide day
BBC Worldwide is to have an entire day dedicated to the drama titles it represents around the world at RomaFictionFest, a leading international festival dedicated to television fiction. Running from 30th September to 5th October in Rome, this will be the festival’s sixth year andthe first time a day has been dedicated to an international distributor.
Taking place on Monday 1st October at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the exclusive BBC Worldwide events will feature a masterclass, two panel sessions and drama premieres that will be open to attending industry and general public.
Steve Macallister, President and Managing Director Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide said:
“RomaFictionFest has established itself as a prestigious event in the television calendar. We are extremely honoured to be the first distributor to partner with the festival for a bespoke day and have lined up a fantastic schedule of events involving some of the most well-known and respected names from on and off the screen. We’re really proud of our drama collection and are looking forward to sharing some of our flagship titles with everyone who attends the festival.”
Steve Della Casa, Festival Director, RomaFictionFest said: "It is a great honour for our international TV festival to partner with BBC Worldwide in our first ever cultural collaboration with a global distributor. We are also glad to present some of the most anticipated TV series for 2012/2013 and some of the most acclaimed international talent. During the BBC Worldwide Day different business models will be discussed at two panels demonstrating to industry attendees co-production processes and building fan engagement beyond the TV screen.”
Acclaimed writer David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) will present a masterclass on Da Vinci’s Demons, the eight-episode historical fantasy series produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for Starz Network and distributed by BBC Worldwide.
Gillian Anderson (Bleak House, The X Files) will be attending the Italian premiere of Great Expectations where she will receive the RomaFictionFest Excellence Award and Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice, Spooks) will walk the red carpet at the premiere of new crime drama Ripper Street.
As well as premieres, the day will feature a panel discussion on how to form a successful coproduction with speakers including Ben Donald (Executive Producer International Drama, BBC Worldwide), Caroline Torrance (Director Drama, BBC Worldwide), Arnaud Jalbert (Commissioning Editor Drama, ARTE) and Raffaella Bonivento (TV Drama International Production Executive, Mediaset).
A second panel will discuss the importance of growing fans around a show using Doctor Who, Misfits and Sherlock as case studies. Matt Jarvis (Development Executive, Clerkenwell), Harriet Newby-Hill (Commercial Director for New Brands, BBC Worldwide), Sebastian Brook (Editor, Doctor Who Online), and Francesco Barbarani (Head of Digital, Fox International Channels Italy) will all be taking part.
Programme premieres will also take place for the Hartswood hit drama Sherlock S2, the seventh series of Doctor Who, the Impossible Pictures production Sinbad and the Left Bank Pictures detective series Zen.
BBC Worldwide has previously collaborated with RomaFictionFest to host premieres of Moonshot with Buzz Aldrin in attendance, 10 Days to War and Wallander with Kenneth Branagh in attendance and a special Misfits event with Iwan Rheon in attendance.
RomaFictionFest is promoted by the Lazio Regionand theRomeChamber of Commerce and is organised by Sviluppo Lazio and the APT - Television Producers Association.
For more information, please contact:
Julia Holmes
Communications Officer, Content & Production and Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8433 3419
Email: Julia.holmes@bbc.com