The Focus conference, renowned as an end-of-year gathering for the international production community, is set to take place in London on December 10 and 11. Celebrating its 10th edition, the event remains free to industry professionals and is expected to bring together thousands of attendees from diverse sectors, including film, television, advertising, animation, games, and XR.
Jean-Frederic Garcia, the managing director of Focus, remarked, “Last year was our biggest event by quite a margin. What we managed to do was to increase not only the numbers but, according to a post-conference survey, also increase the satisfaction. I am pleased to say the 10th edition will be the biggest we’ve ever done.” This year, Focus has opted for a restructured format, distributing talks and sessions across targeted stages to address specific interests, organised into three main categories: Business & Leadership, Craft & Creativity, and Tech & Innovation.
In an effort to cater to the evolving needs of attendees, Focus is introducing a new session format titled “In Brief,” which features 10-minute presentations on contemporary topics such as new technologies and traditional crafts. Garcia emphasised that “a priority for us is the quality of attendance. We have deployed resources to it,” indicating that accreditation will be meticulously controlled to ensure that participants derive maximum benefit from the conference.
Among the anticipated highlights of the conference is a masterclass led by the British Film Commission focusing on filming locations for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Additionally, there will be a conversation between film critic Jason Solomons and “True Detective” producer Sam Breckman. A notable feature this year is a lecture centred on artificial intelligence (AI), examining Robert Zemeckis' film “Here,” titled “Generation AI Is ‘Here’: The Science and Art Behind Robert Zemeckis’ Groundbreaking Feature.”
Garcia noted that while last year's conference prominently featured AI, this year’s theme puts special emphasis on adaptability and flexibility within the industry. “If you look at the way our sessions are structured, they are either about adaptability to a new world — be it new funding avenues or audience sustainability — and flexibility, because there is a great need for malleability in this day and age,” he explained. He further indicated that the aim is to explore ways to harness AI while maintaining a balance with traditional craft, acknowledging the industry's resilience during challenging times over the past two years.
The conference also reflects a broadened international participation, with Garcia highlighting increased involvement from U.K. studios and the addition of delegates from new countries, including Japan, Hungary, and Tunisia. Expressing excitement about this year’s event, he concluded, “I’m looking forward to the conference this year because of all the changes we’ve made. We have honed our focus on the three pillars of conference, exhibition and networking, and have truly nurtured the possibilities of connection.”
The Focus conference promises to be a significant event for professionals aiming to navigate the complexities and opportunities within the current landscape of the production industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services