London, Wednesday 21 October 2026 – Spotlight has today unveiled the full programme for Spotlight Forum 2026, taking place in Leeds on Wednesday 4 November as part of the 40th anniversary edition of the Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF), and announced leading agent Jane Epstein and Warp Films CEO Mark Herbert as the recipients of this year’s Spotlight Forum Awards.
Themed The North Star: Connecting Our Creative Community, the Forum, sponsored by Streets Media Accountancy, brings together performers, talent agents, casting directors and directors for a full day of panel discussions, practical masterclasses, policy roundtables and networking. Running from 9am to 6pm around Millennium Square, with sessions hosted at Leeds Carriageworks and Leeds City Museum, the day celebrates the thriving creative sector across the North of England and positions the region as a central hub for UK production and casting.
Speakers include intimacy coordination pioneer Ita O’Brien (Normal People, I May Destroy You), A.I. legal expert Dr Mathilde Pavis, Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Overton (The Silent Child), the casting teams behind Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, and the leaders of the North’s four partner screen agencies. The day will close with an exclusive evening celebration in the city centre, marking the start of Spotlight’s centenary celebrations in 2027.
Spotlight Forum Awards
The Spotlight Forum Awards honour two industry trailblazers whose vision and dedication have transformed the landscape for regional creatives, recognising outstanding achievement in discovering exceptional talent and bringing authentic Northern stories to global audiences.
The awards will be presented by 2 special guests and the session with Jane Epstein will include an interview conducted by Jonathan Dean, executive editor, interviews, culture & books at The Sunday Times.
The Talent Discovery Award: Jane Epstein, Independent Talent Group
As the Forum heads North, Spotlight is celebrating regional talent and reminding actors that an M25 postcode or an RP accent is no longer a prerequisite for a thriving career. Jane Epstein, one of the UK’s most respected agents and a Managing Director of Independent Talent Group (ITG), is recognised for her outstanding track record in nurturing exceptional working-class actors from the North and breaking authentic Northern voices on the global stage.
Jane joined ITG in 1991 and became an agent in her own right two years later. Over three decades she has signed Northern actors including Sean Bean, Max Beesley, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Jodie Comer and Darci Shaw, guiding many of them from the very start of their careers to Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy, BAFTA, Olivier and Tony success.
Outstanding Contribution to Northern Storytelling: Mark Herbert, Warp Films
Sponsored by Act on This
Long before decentralisation became an industry buzzword, Sheffield producer Mark Herbert was fighting for funding, better infrastructure and recognition for regional filmmaking. From Dead Man’s Shoes, This Is England and Four Lions to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Adolescence, Mark and his multi-award-winning company Warp Films have helped build a sustainable creative ecosystem across the region, supporting the careers of countless artists and filmmakers from Yorkshire, the Midlands and beyond.
Raised in a mining town in South Yorkshire, Mark has won six BAFTAs, a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. Most recently he produced Adolescence, which ranks as the second most viewed English-language Netflix series of all time, and he is preparing to begin production on The Unheard, a new limited series from Jack Thorne starring Kate Winslet and Maxine Peake.
Programme Highlights
Morning sessions (reserved for Spotlight member ticket holders):
- The Northern Powerhouse Pipeline: From Soap to Cinema: In a landmark industry first, the casting teams behind Coronation Street (Gennie Radcliffe and Katy Scully), Emmerdale (Ezra Tren-Humphries and Faye Styring) and Hollyoaks (Gill Charnock and Peter Hunt) share a stage, moderated by actor Tom Lorcan (Coronation Street). The panel is followed by small-group breakouts where performers meet each casting team directly.
- Navigating A.I. Contracts and Performer Rights: Dr Mathilde Pavis, the legal mind behind Equity and the PMA’s A.I. guidelines, leads a straight-talking Q&A for agents and casting professionals on spotting hidden clauses, protecting likeness and voice rights, and securing fair compensation.
- Demystifying Intimacy Coordination On Set: Pioneering Intimacy Coordinator Ita O’Brien de-sensationalises intimacy work, walking performers, agents and casting professionals through every stage from script breakdown and self-tapes to riders, modesty garments and on-set boundaries.
- Prioritising Mental Health and Wellbeing in Casting: Sophie Freeman of The Film and TV Charity joins casting directors Sally Broome CDG and Claire Bleasdale CDG to tackle workload pressures, with a first look at the Charity’s new dedicated tool for industry professionals.
- Making Your Own Break Through Short Film: Chris Overton and acclaimed Northern director Alfie Barker (Berlinale Dreammaker winner 2026) share practical blueprints for creating micro-budget shorts that open doors to agents, casting directors and the international festival circuit.
- Navigating Northern Production Funds and Attaching Talent: Hosted by Screen Alliance North, with Caroline Cooper Charles (Screen Yorkshire), Alison Gwynn (North East Screen), Lynn Saunders (Liverpool Film Office) and Rob Page (Screen Manchester) explaining how regional funding shapes where productions shoot and how talent is attached.
- Casting: Access in Action: TripleC CEO Jules Hussey and actors Melissa Johns, Steph Lacey, Natalie Amber and Gabriella Leon lead an interactive session building confidence in casting deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent actors, including practical guidance on access riders.
- Safeguarding Children Roundtable: A private working session to help shape the future of young performer protection, bringing together key industry leaders, agents, casting directors, and policy experts to capture existing best practices and build an actionable blueprint for legal reform.
- Directors UK and Spotlight Present: Working with Actors: A practical director-actor workshop led by director Lisa Clarke (The Spanish Princess, Sanditon, Eastenders).
- Getting to Know Your Crew On Set: Sticks & Glass Skills Hub demystifies crew roles, set jargon and etiquette so performers can step onto set with confidence.
Afternoon sessions (open to Spotlight members, industry and LIFF ticket holders):
- Opening Remarks and The Film and TV Charity Presents Break the Cycle: Matt Hood and Sophie Freeman introduce the Charity’s new film and the support available to help the industry call out bad practice and champion positive workplace cultures.
- Case Study: The Split Up – How Regional Production Powers Northern Creativity: Bryony Arnold (Executive Producer) and Kasheina Vencatasawmy (Head of Development) of Sister Pictures, casting director Sonia Allam CDG, actor Debbie Rush and Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Deputy Leader of Wigan Council, examine how moving the Sister/BBC drama from London to Greater Manchester has created casting opportunities for local actors and space for authentic South Asian stories.
- Casting in the North: Changing the Mindset: The closing panel confronts audition travel costs, environmental impact and regional bias, with casting directors Sam Claypole CDG, Orla O’Connor CDG, Sally Broome CDG and Emma Garrett CDG, actor Melissa Johns, agent Georgina Andrew (Lime Talent Agency and Management) and Erin Carter of Leeds Conservatoire.
Event and Ticket Information
Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 9am – 6pm, followed by an exclusive evening celebration
Location: Leeds Carriageworks and Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds, as part of the Leeds International Film Festival
Tickets: £25, with all proceeds donated to The Film and TV Charity. Performer, agent and casting tickets are available to Spotlight members and include access to panels and sessions, a lunch voucher and an invitation to the evening celebration. Industry tickets are valid for the afternoon sessions only, and LIFF ticket holders can book a place at the afternoon panels.
Booking: Agent tickets | Casting tickets | Industry tickets. Full programme and ticket details are available at spotlight.com.
