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The Festival of Media Stories returns to Leicester on Friday, 7 November, celebrating and nurturing media talent across the East Midlands.

Hosted at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, the festival aims to open doors for students and creatives by providing access to industry insights, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Following its successful launch last year, Festival Directors Helen Bruce and Dr David Christopher hope this year’s programme will further establish Leicester as a vibrant hub for creative media.

Festival Highlights

The Â鶹ÊÓƵ will host a dynamic programme including:

• Workshops in filmmaking, animation, and screenwriting
• Talks with industry leaders
• Film screenings showcasing regional and international talent
• The Festival of Media Stories Awards Ceremony at the Attenborough Film Theatre

Featured Sessions

• Scriptwriting Workshop led by Samantha Gao and Yvonne Zhao
• Beginner Filmmaking Workshop with Yiming Song and Sami Mati
• Animation Workshop & Below the Waves Project Demo by TAPE Music and Film
• PLATFORM Talk by Keith Allot, highlighting a Leicester-based programme for filmmakers and digital artists, led by Phoenix in partnership with Liminal Screens and Badshoes Films
• In Conversation: David Christopher with avant-garde queer-indie filmmaker John Greyson, a key figure in the Toronto New Wave
• Creative Showcase: Andy Turner presents The Toymakers Key, a multi-platform entertainment concept brought to life through a graphic novel and 2D animated motion art
• Multi-award-winning director and the CEO of the Ridley Scott Creative, Luke Scott will share insights into the evolving media landscape and his experience at the intersection of entertainment and branding

Screenings

• Long Form Award Nominees:
  • The Last Ranger by Cindy Lee
  • Altrove by Ettore Zito
• Short Film Showcase: Six films exploring class in new British cinema, featuring work by: Ashny Johnson, Edem Kelman, Marta Duczkowska, Charlotte James, Tomisin Adepeju, and Paul Chambers
• Special Screening: Love + War, chronicling Pulitzer Prize winner Lynsey Addario’s rise in the male-dominated world of conflict photography

Awards Ceremony

The festival concludes with the Festival of Media Stories Awards, celebrating excellence across categories:

• Youth Creative (16–18)
• Student Creative
• Factual Stories
• Animated Stories
• Auditory Stories
• Fictional Stories
• Best Visual Storytelling
• Best Script in Production
• Midlands Award

For more information and ticket details, please visit: