From Attending to Hosting: My Networking Journey in the Screen Industry
Networking is something I always knew was important in the screen industry, but at the beginning it was something that made me quite anxious. Starting conversations with people I didn’t know and presenting myself professionally felt intimidating, especially when many of the people attending these events already seemed confident and established in their careers. However, over time I realised that networking is simply about meeting people who share similar creative interests and building genuine connections.
One of the first events I attended was New Mondays, a filmmaking networking event that brings together directors, producers, writers and performers. Attending this event helped me understand how collaborative the industry really is. I met people working on a wide range of projects and began to realise that many opportunities start through simple conversations and shared ideas.
After this, I started attending more networking events, including a networking party in Manchester and the Royal Park Pub mixer. Each event helped me grow more confident introducing myself and talking about my work. I also realised that networking isn’t about promoting yourself constantly, but about building relationships and finding people whose creative goals align with your own.
After attending several events, one of my industry connections suggested that I should consider hosting my own networking event. As someone who is moving into producing, creating opportunities for people to connect felt like a natural step. Instead of only attending events organised by others, I decided to try creating a space where creatives could meet and collaborate.
I organised a networking fundraiser at The Bootlegger in Leeds, themed around a fictional bar from a short film project I am producing called Gin and Juice. The event included multiple live jazz performances and ended up attracting over 100 attendees from across the creative industry, including filmmakers, actors, musicians and other creatives.
The event allowed people to network, raised funds for the project and helped me develop my skills in organising and promoting an event. I was also approached by several directors afterwards who were interested in collaborating on future projects, which showed me how valuable creating these kinds of spaces can be.
Looking back, attending and hosting networking events has completely changed how I see networking. At first it felt intimidating, but I now see it as an opportunity to build a creative community and connect with people who are passionate about filmmaking.
Moving forward, I plan to continue hosting networking or marketing events alongside the projects I produce. Not only do these events help promote the work, but they also create opportunities for collaboration and bring creatives together in a way that feels natural and supportive.