Pippa Harris and James Wilson to lead London Film Festival forum

Pippa Harris, producer of *The Beatles: Get Back*, and James Wilson, producer of *The Zone of Interest*, will headline the London Film Festival’s Industry Forum next month, addressing the pressures of financing and production in a shifting industry landscape.

The forum comes as British film faces mounting challenges—rising costs, strikes, and the dominance of streamers—while still relying on mid-budget, director-led films like Harris’s Beatles documentary and Wilson’s Oscar-winning drama. The event reflects a broader industry push to adapt, with producers under pressure to balance creative ambition with financial viability. The forum’s timing, just weeks after the BFI’s Future Film Summit, suggests a coordinated effort to rethink how films are made and funded.

Harris, a veteran behind works like *Notting Hill* and *The King’s Speech*, will likely discuss the logistical hurdles of her Beatles project—filming in New Zealand during the pandemic—while Wilson, known for *The Zone of Interest*’s stark, immersive approach, may weigh in on the challenges of financing provocative, non-commercial films. Both have navigated the shift from traditional studios to independent financing, a path increasingly common for mid-tier British productions.

What happens next could shape how filmmakers approach funding and production. The forum may highlight new models, from co-productions to public-private partnerships, as the industry grapples with inflation and audience fragmentation. For filmmakers, the takeaway will be clear: adapt or risk irrelevance.