We’re delighted to announce our first event in Leeds, on Thursday 27 February, from 3.30 - 7pm.

The event will include a tour of Prime Studios, one of the largest independent film & TV studios in the North of England: credits include BBC One's ABC Murders and Channel 4's First Dates, as well as music videos for artists such as Nicki Minaj. The tour will include the on-site MetFilm School campus. This will be followed by an industry insights workshop and Q&A with Ben Murrell (Duck Soup Films) and Fanny Kerekes (4Skills), for which participants will have an opportunity to submit teaching materials for discussion with fellow educators and industry experts, and discuss career opportunities for young people in the screen sector. The event will finish with networking drinks.

Event Schedule:

• 3 - 3.15pm - Arrivals, Registration & Welcome

• 3.15 - 4.45pm - Tour of Prime Studios & MetFilm School

• 4.45 - 6.15pm - Industry Insights Workshop and Q&A

• 6.15 - 7pm - Networking Drinks at Archive Leeds

Places for this event are free and open to film/media educators.

Contributors:

Ben Murell first came to work at Duck Soup Films via the C4 4Skills Production Training Scheme selected from hundreds of applicants.  He subsequently moved on to work as a production assistant on DANCE SCHOOL before landing his role as a development coordinator where he is responsible for supporting the company founders, the head of development and the executive producers in their process of developing an outstanding and diverse film and television slate. Prior to his career in the screen industry, Ben worked in education as a secondary school teacher specialising in English and Media. Whilst studying for his degree in Film and Television, Ben participated in the BFI Film Academy, worked on several independently financed short and feature length films and spent time working for the Media Archive for Central England (MACE).

With a strong background in television production and project management, Fanny Kerekes currently serves as a Project Manager for 4Skills at Channel 4, where she oversees the delivery of key training and outreach initiatives across the UK. In this role, she helps bring Channel 4’s mission of social mobility and diversity to life by delivering impactful training schemes that open doors for emerging talent and foster their growth. Before joining Channel 4, Fanny gained invaluable experience in production management, working on high-profile TV shows like Steph’s Packed Lunch, Story of the Songs, and A New Life in the Sun.

Based in Harlesden, Garden Studios is the only large-scale film & TV studio in Central London, with credits including My Lady Jane, Queen Charlotte and Big Brother. They are also at the forefront of sustainable film production, and received certified B Corp status in 2023 - only the second sound stage campus in the world to achieve this accreditation.

We’re delighted to be able to offer an exclusive tour of Garden Studios to Network members on Thursday 30 January. The tour will begin with a demo of Garden Studios’ state-of-the-art Virtual Production facilities, followed by the rest of the studio campus.

The tour will run from 3.30 - 5pm, and be followed by networking drinks. Places are free and open to film/media educators, but are limited: please RSVP below.