Panelist for the Sunday 21st April

Casting Directors  

Mandy Steele  - casting since 2002, experienced in features and shorts including BAFTA nominated Talking With Angels, 

Abhaya Sethu - Casting Assistant to Catherine Willis, previously casting asssitant to Amy Hubbard. Worked on Mrs Sidhu Investigates, The Girl Before, Renagade Nell.

Lucy Jordan - as casting assistant to Dixie Chassay she has helped cast features such as: Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness and The Favourite.

Jennifer Presser - an award nominated Casting Director who specialises in global casting for film and television series, in particular, those looking to cast international talent across many countries including but not limited to the United Kingdom and the USA.

Directors

Delyth Thomas - is a three time BAFTA nominee, an accomplished director whose work encompasses primetime feature length comedy, dark brooding crime and iconic family drama. Credits include: Then You Run, The Worst Witch, Victoria.

Christian Durham - is a celebrated Theatre Director, who has lead companies across the globe. Most recently he directed the re-imagined and immersive production of ZORRO.

Alice Troughton - is an internationally-acclaimed director working between the UK and the US. Having lead directed and exec-produced Baghdad Central and The Midwich Cuckoos, she is also known for her work on the award-winning shows The Living and The Dead, Cucumber and Dr Who.

Kate Cheeseman - a BAFTA and multi-award winning director working in both film and television including; Call the Midwife/Outlander/Doc Martin

Producers 

Alexa Waugh - a TV/ film Producer and Line Producer, with over a decade of experience in the film and TV industry, Known for Three Day Millionaire/I Love My Mum/Boudica

Aysha Scott - the creative powerhouse behind A-Scott Productions, your go-to source for captivating indie films and innovative storytelling. With over two decades of experience in the film, TV, and theater industry.

Cross Creatives

Aletha Shepherd - is a British Actress, Director & Producer. A recipient of the prestigious Women of the Future award for Arts & Culture in 2023. Aletha is the found of Shot of Tea production company.

"It's every parent's worst nightmare to have a child ask for food and to have to say they don't have any."

- Emma Beggs, Trussell Trust Craigavon Foodbank. 

Past Panelist

Here are the names and links of the panelists who have helped to make past events a success. 

Agents 

Nina Malone of IAG a talented agent who has clients working in theatre, TV and Film. 

Natalie Giacone founder of NG Personal Management bring fresh and exciting talent to the stage and screen.

Sarah Leigh of Inclusivity Films works to have disability truly represented on, and off, screen but also to have disabled actors in roles where disability isn't part of the plot. 

Megan Henson - assistant agent at Jessica Carney Associates who celebrate a small client list in order to offer a very personal level of representation.

Casting Directors  

Elisa Musson - works internationally for the offices of Nancy Bishop and Rachel Freck Casting.

Mandy Steele  - casting since 2002, experienced in features and shorts including BAFTA nominated Talking With Angels, 

Amy Jackson - works in a freelance capacity with some of the UK’s most highly respected Casting Directors, including Kate Rhodes James, Rachel Freck, Julie Harkin, Jina Jay, Kate Dowd, Rachel Sheridan and Robert Sterne.

Sue Odell - multi award wining casting director who specialises in short film and commercial work.

Mark Sumariwalla - of Mark Summers Casting, with over 25 years of casting experience they pride themselves on always finding innovative solutions for our clients.

Directors

 Kate Cheeseman - a BAFTA and multi-award winning director working in both film and television including; Call the Midwife/Outlander/Doc Martin

Christiana Ebohon - an award-winning NFTS trained drama director, selected for BAFTA Elevate 2017 scheme to promote female directors. Her work includes The Pact II/Outlander/Grantchester

Andy McLeod - an actor and award winning Theatre & Film Director 

Isobel Soden & Natalie Marsland of Reuben Feels. A theatrical company working in the commercial sector, with a mission 'to get the world playing.'

Producers

Christein Bart-Gittens of It's Fine Productions, an award winning Producer 

Aletha Sheperd of Shot Of Tea, a production company that specialises in narrative content for both film and television. Who has just won 'Woman of The Future Award.'

Ashleigh Ashley - a well-rounded Creative Producer who currently works as a freelance Producer in the Film, TV & Advertising space for companies such as Lammas Park, Riff Raff Films, BBC and The Walt Disney Company.

Alaistair Train - a writer/director and Senior Producer at LFA.

Chris Piper - founder of Chris Piper Productions, has worked in Theatre, TV and Film as a Performer, Choreographer, Creative Director and Producer for over 20 years.