FOCUS:The Meeting Place For International Production returned to London’s Business Design Centre on the 6th and 7th of December 2016, For its second edition, FOCUS saw a significant increase in visitors and boasted even more content, with over 100 speakers at 35 panel discussions, presentations and workshops, covering film, TV, advertising and interactive content. FOCUS was completely free to attend for members of the production industry.

tlg-focus-day-01-eb-picture-79 165 organisations, including film commissions, locations providers and production service companies, from over 50 countries exhibited at FOCUS. The new UK Village showcased film-friendly locations and regional agencies with FO:UK making their first public debut as a collective and Screen Suffolk launching its new outfit. Arizona launched its new Film and Digital Media Office, Studio 48, at the show. [Click here for full list of exhibitors].

Craftworks – a Positive Curaton of Creativity was one of 35 sessions at FOCUS

The 35 sessions – many of them standing room only – covered key topics concerning the production industry today, such as sustainability, diversity, accessing the Asian market and the future of television in an era of convergence. Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London opened this year’s iteration of FOCUS with an exclusive interview conducted by Variety. There were exclusive sessions for the commercials industry curated by David Reviews, The Beak Street Bugle and APA. Click here for the full list of speakers and sessions. You can read a review of the Sustainability session, presented by Sargent-Disc here.

The programme, curated by Sue Hayes, was developed in consultation with a number of leading industry organisations including the Advertising Producers Association, BFI, BFC, Creative Skillset, Pact, The Production Guild, Production Managers Association, UKIE and Women in Film and TV.

Networking Heaven

Delegates had many opportunities for networking. Events included the FOCUS welcome drinks in collaboration with Variety, Pact, PMA and the Production Guild, the launch event for for Screen Suffolk and receptions hosted by Location Professionals Group, David Reviews, Canary Islands, Thailand, the Estonian Film Institute, Catalunya/Barcelona Film Commissions and Polish Film Commissions . FOCUS also organised the Advertising Producers Association Xmas Drinks at the Ace Hotel (see photos here). There were lots of other opportunities for informal networking throughout the event at the FOCUS bars, including the LIMELITE Bar and The Arizona – Sneaky Big Studios Bar.

View the full gallery of FOCUS 2016 pictures at http://www.tlgfocus.com/2016gallery/

We were delighted by the positive feedback. Here are just a few of the tweets. You can check out many more at https://twitter.com/tlgfocus

@tlgfocus – it's Cannes without the blisters… #focuslondon

— Daniel Lyddon (@Daniel_Lyddon) December 7, 2016

So many great meetings and swapping of business cards at @tlgfocus this week – will definitely be back for more next year! #film #networking

— Seraphim Pictures (@SeraphimPics) December 8, 2016

#FOCUS2016 – great industry event and inspiring #discussionpanels this week! ????Thanks a lot, @tlgfocus #film #InternationalProduction

— Kasia Wojcicka (@CrushOnKash) December 8, 2016

Great to connect with talented production people and hear from interesting voices at @tlgfocus. Some spectacular locations being showcased!

— Andy Kelly (@andykellypop) December 7, 2016