Sunrise Industry Summit
This event is at the Marina Theatre
This event will be BSL Interpreted
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About the Event
The Sunrise Industry Summit is a dedicated event at the 2025 Sunrise Film Festival, designed to inspire, educate, and support young people in pursuing careers in the film industry and cinema exhibition. Whether you're a budding filmmaker, an aspiring festival curator, or passionate about community cinema, this summit will provide invaluable insights into making it in the industry, especially in our region.
This two-part event features expert panels, exclusive screenings, and open discussions with industry professionals who have carved their paths in filmmaking, festival programming, and cinema exhibition.
SESSION 1 (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Presented by Young Film Network South East
Introduction: A look at the BFI Film Academy & Young Film Network South East, offering young creatives opportunities to break into the industry.
Short Film Screenings:
Showcasing three 5-minute short films supported by Young Film Network South East, through the Short Cut Film Fund.
Special Screenings by Guest Speakers:
Short films screened and created by our guest speakers, Sarah Leigh & Makenna Guyler, will lead into a 45-minute panel talk on accessibility behind the scenes in the Industry.
Panel Discussion – ‘Accessibility Behind the Scenes’
Speakers: Sarah Leigh & Makenna Guyler
Chaired by: Gina Stock, local young creative and Head of Events at Sunrise Film Festival
A deep dive into inclusivity in film production, career accessibility, and breaking barriers behind the scenes. How do we create an industry that works for everyone?
Audience Q&A
Your chance to ask the speakers about their experiences and advice for entering the industry.
SESSION 2 (1:15 PM - 2:15 PM)
Industry Career Insights: Film Festivals, Community Cinema & Production
Ending on a Film Screening: Dial, directed by Josh Trett
A panel discussion exploring different career paths, through setting up a successful production company in the region, creating short films and independent productions, and working on film festivals, with all panellists having a local connection to East Anglia.
Panelists:
Josh Trett – Filmmaker & Managing Director of Trett Films, Director of Dial
Lizzie Banks – Film Festival Creative Director & Accessibility Advocate
Mark Finbow – Film Production & Storytelling
Matilda Green – Film Industry & Audience Engagement
Chaired by: Joshua Freemantle, Leading Founder of Sunrise Film Festival & manager of social enterprise Sunrise Studios
Each panellist will introduce their career journey, followed by an open discussion covering key topics such as:
- How to break into the industry across our wider South East region, creating independent productions & working on film festivals.
- Navigating industry challenges & opportunities in East Anglia.
- The power of community cinema and grassroots film initiatives.
Audience Q&A
A chance to ask your burning questions and connect with professionals in the field.
Who Should Attend?
This event is ideal for:
Aspiring filmmakers, directors, producers, and screenwriters
Anyone interested in film festivals, independent films, and cinema exhibition
Students and young creatives looking to break into the industry
Film lovers who want to understand more about how the industry works behind the scenes
Join Us!
The Sunrise Industry Summit is an unmissable event for young creatives looking to forge their own path in the industry. Gain first-hand insights from professionals, discover different career opportunities, and be part of the next generation of storytellers and industry change makers.
Our Sunrise Industry Summit has been made possible thanks to support from the Geoffrey Watling Foundation and is delivered in partnership with Young Film Network South East, and supported by National Lottery funding.
Tickets:
General Admission: £6 | 25 & Under: £3 | Unwaged: £3
We are proud to make Sunrise Film Festival an inclusive and accessible film festival. If ticketing is a barrier to you, please email us on comms@sunrisefilmfestival.co.uk and we will support without judgement or query to ensure you can attend our Sunrise Industry Summit.
Meet Our Guest Speakers:
Sarah Leigh:
Sarah Leigh is a neurodivergent/disabled, working-class filmmaker and advocate. She is the founder of INCLUSIVITY FILMS - a company committed to at least 50% of cast and crew identifying as d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent on every production. She was supported in 2022 by Creative UK/BFI and was a Women in Film & Television UK mentee for 2023. She is also the co-founder of INCLUSIVE TALENT, a talent agency for underrepresented actors.
Sarah adapted and directed the award-winning screenplay of the short film TYPICAL?, for which she won a ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY award in Directing, and was nominated for the DIRECTORS UK / Film House Best Film Direction award. Typical? has been part of the Official Selection at OSCAR & BIFA qualifying festivals. She also wrote & directed the adapted screenplay ONE FOR THE ROAD based upon a Stephen King short story. Sarah's screenplay, ONE DAY, was an Official Selection in the Screenplay category of the BAFTA/Oscar-qualifying festival FLICKERS’ RHODE ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL in 2022, and her screenplay CALL IT OUT was a finalist in the IMDb SCRIPT TO SCREEN competition in 2024.
Sarah is a mother to two boys, one of whom is disabled, and her advocacy work includes developing Healthcare Passports with the NHS for children with complex needs and disabilities, and campaigning for CHANGING PLACES toilets. She consults on access and equitable workplaces & practices within the screen industries, and is on the EDI Advisory Group of CREATIVE UK. She is also on the Advisory Group for Hire Survivors Hollywood, which aims to end career retaliation against survivors of sexual violence in the entertainment industry. She was an actor for 15 years, and before this worked in TV news.
Makenna Guyler:
With an extensive array of experience initially as a screen actress, Makenna moved into producing several years ago. During this time, she has worked with a vast number of different budgets and productions, from commercials to shorts and features.
She has produced projects that have been backed by the likes of BFI and Arts Council, and she has landed distribution for films with some of the big industry players. Makenna was the sole producer on Film Market’s winning pilot script for pitch meetings with the studio heads of StudioCanal TV, Lionsgate, Amazon and others.
She has run productions with world known clients such as Bosch & Connect, and has worked alongside BAFTA recognised cast and crew members who carry credits such as ‘Braveheart’, ‘A view to Kill’, ‘Pennyworth’, ‘Sherlock’. Most recently, she’s produced the BFI-backed short film ‘Green Grass’ set for distribution this year, and is now working on a dark comedy feature film.
Josh Trett:
Alongside his work in production, Josh is passionate about supporting emerging filmmakers. He has delivered industry workshops, including sessions at the Norwich Film Festival, sharing insights on storytelling, pitching, and navigating the business side of production.
Lizzie is the Deputy Artistic Director at Carousel, an award-winning arts organisation led by individuals with learning disabilities and autism. A key project she oversees is the Oska Bright Film Festival, the largest film festival in the world dedicated to showcasing films created by or featuring learning-disabled and autistic individuals. Supported by the BFI, Arts Council England, Adult Swim, and BIFA and BAFTA-accredited, the festival is a significant platform for these filmmakers. Lizzie has been instrumental in the festival’s growth for over a decade.
The festival tours both the UK and internationally, sharing award-winning shorts and features and hosting workshops and seminars. Committed to transforming the festival and screen sector, Oska Bright works tirelessly to elevate the representation of learning-disabled people in cultural spaces and on screen globally.
Through its biennial festival, the Brighton-based organisation is a leading advocate for learning-disabled and autistic filmmakers, providing them with vital opportunities to share their stories with both their peers and the wider film industry.
Guided by the belief that "If you see it, you can be it," the festival strives to shine a spotlight on learning disabled and autistic filmmakers and ensure they receive the recognition they deserve. With her lived experience, Lizzie is deeply passionate about promoting diversity in film and is dedicated to creating pathways and opportunities for underrepresented voices in the industry.
When film work is sparse, she teaches primary school children creative after-school clubs with a company run by performers, Mini Moons. In addition, running social media for small businesses since 2019 has been a productive way for her to continue to build video and marketing skills.
Mark trained as an actor at LAMDA, where he was awarded the Sir John Gielgud bursary.
Day to day he works across the film and theatre industry as a producer, director, writer and actor developing work in association with various arts companies.
He has a keen interest in science fiction, 80s music, and the English Civil War, and the majority of his projects feature at least one of these elements.
He's the artistic director and co-founder of The Keeper’s Daughter, under which banner he produces science fiction and fantasy theatre for young adults and family audiences. Mark also produces projects inspired by the early modern period under the banner Eastern Association Productions.
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Ticket Disclaimer:
Please note that latecomers may be admitted up to 15 minutes after the screening has started but may be asked to take a seat at the back of the auditorium. Standing is not permitted in any of the events.
To guarantee access to this event, you must pre-book a ticket.
Additional Information: Please note parking is not available on-site. The nearest car parks are at Clapham Road South or Whapload Road. Lowestoft Train Station is a 5-10 minute walk away.
