Connected+ | 2021

HOST LISTING

Building on the ConnectEd speed meeting programme, the Edinburgh TV Festival has launched a series of regular digital sessions with commissioners and decision-makers. Designed for smaller groups of delegates, Festival Creative Director Stewart Clarke will do the intros and talk to the guest about their channel or platform, and then it’s over to you.

We encourage delegates who secure a space to submit a question in advance, and they can also weigh in on the day. The sessions will be sharply focussed on the commissioning processes and content needs of a channel or platform. The ConnectED+ sessions are restricted to a limited number of attendees to ensure each session is hands-on and offers all participants a chance to contribute.

ConnectED+ will be back for another season later in the year!

All 2021 pass holders are eligible to apply to participate and sessions will be available on demand for delegates only.

2021 Spring Season

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Jonathan Lewsley, Head of Scripted Originals, Amazon

Thursday 15 April | 12.00 - 13.00

Johnny oversees the development and production of UK scripted originals for Amazon Prime Video, including upcoming titles Jungle, The Devil’s Hour and The Rig. He was previously Editorial Lead for BritBox Originals, working on the development of Spitting Image, The Beast Must Die and others. He has worked in London and LA as a development producer and script editor (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Bill), and as development editor for the BBC Commissioning team. He is a qualified barrister, trained as a producer at the NFTS and is a former international rock musician.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Luke Hyams, Head of Originals, EMEA, YouTube

Thursday 8 April | 10.00 - 11.00

Luke Hyams is the Head of Originals for YouTube in EMEA where he oversees all original programming across the region. At YouTube he has been responsible for a wide range of scripted and unscripted programming, collaborating with companies including Left Bank & BBC Studios and talent including Lewis Capaldi & The Sidemen. Before joining the Google owned video platform, Luke was Director of Global Content at The Walt Disney Co where he worked with the worlds best digital creators and legacy Disney brands to create original digital franchises for a variety of platforms. Luke has spent time in Asia partnering with brands to produce web-series and micro-movies and before that worked extensively as a writer and director creating award-winning interactive series including "Dubplate Drama," and 'Katemodern', for which he earned the Broadcast Press Guild award for innovation.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Laura Luckenbaugh, Manager, International Programming & Development, AMC Networks

Thursday 25 March | 14.00 - 15.00

As Manager of International Programming at AMC Networks, Laura develops and oversees original series and international co-productions for AMC, SundanceTV, BBC America, and AMC+ including QUIZ, THIS IS GOING TO HURT, THE BEAST MUST DIE, THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES and Season 2 of GANGS OF LONDON.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Charlotte Reid, Head of Commissioning L&E Discovery UK, Discovery 3

Thursday 1 April | 12.00 - 13.00

Charlotte Reid is Head of Commissioning for the Lifestyle & Entertainment channels at Discovery Networks UK. In this role, Charlotte commissions content and oversees factual entertainment and lifestyle programming for Really, Quest Red, Food Network, HGTV and discovery + in the UK.

Charlotte’s recent commissions include crime series Faking It, including Faking It Jimmy Savile which recently launched on discovery +; returning medical series The Bad Skin Clinic; property shows Sarah Beeny’s Renovate Don't Relocate and My Mortgage Free Home on HGTV; Katie Price My Crazy Life and The Nolans Go Cruising for Quest Red and Tom Kerridge’s BBQ and Gok Wan’s Easy Asian on Food Network.

This session is now full. To join the waiting list please complete the form below.

PREVIOUS 2020 SPEED MEETING HOSTS

- Simon Nelson, Development Executive, BBC Writersroom
- Adam Barker, Channel Executive BBC TWO
- Charlotte Reid, Head of Commissioning, L&E, Discovery UK
- Emma Westcott, Commissioning Editor, Factual, Channel 5
- Paul Hembury & Helen O’Donnell, TalentWorks BBC Studios
- Daniel Korn,VP Programming, A+E Networks UK
- Romy Page, Commissioning Executive, Discovery
- Helen Nightingale, Senior Commissioning Editor, UKTV
- Gabriel Silver, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Sky
- Kevin O'Brien, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, ITV
- Luke Hyams, Head of Originals EMEA, Youtube
- Fozia Khan, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries, Channel 4
- Chloe Tucker, Commissioning Editor, ITV
- Syeda Irtizaali, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment, BBC