The autumn calendar is packing a trio of high-profile gatherings for anyone working in film, television or comics. From a charity-driven producer forum in London to a cross-continental financing summit in San Sebastián, and finally a comic-heavy showcase at New York Comic Con, each event promises to surface fresh perspectives on how stories are built, funded and delivered to audiences.
London charity panel puts producers on stage
On Tuesday 6 October the Emerald Theatre on the Embankment will host the Panel & Networking Event organised by Chapters in partnership with the Film + TV Charity for a second consecutive year. Naomi May – a former editor of Elle UK and current cultural commentator for The GuardianThe Times and Vogue – will moderate a diverse group of producers who have each followed a distinct route into the business.
The line-up includes Roopesh Parekh (VisionQuest, *His Dark Materials*), Sheila Nortley (head of drama at Osun Group – *Stay Close*, *Supacell*), Lee Groombridge (producer of *Pillion* and *Bird*), Karl Liegis (production chief at 60Forty Films – *Hijack*), and Francesca Reidy, a seasoned production manager behind titles such as *Conclave* and *Secret Service*. Their stories illustrate that there is no single formula for a successful producing career, a point the charity hopes to reinforce for emerging talent.
Beyond the discussion, the evening is designed as a true networking occasion: creatives from across the UK film and drama sectors can mingle, exchange business cards and learn how their contributions can support the “vital work” of the Film + TV Charity, which provides financial assistance and mentoring to industry newcomers.
San Sebastián Creative Investors Conference tackles financing realities
From 22–23 September the San Sebastián international film Festival will host its fifth Creative Investors Conference co-organized with CAA Media Finance. The programme gathers a transatlantic roster of financiers, producers and policy makers to dissect the challenges and opportunities shaping the global audiovisual market.
Key sessions include “The New U.S. Landscape,” featuring Neon’s Elissa Federoff, Pastel’s Adele Romanski and Sumerian Pictures’ Rob Williams, and “Europe’s Current Challenges & Opportunities,” with speakers such as StudioCanal’s Ron Halpern and Killer Films’ Christine Vachon. Vincent Maraval of Goodfellas will deliver a candid market analysis, while Spain’s sovereign venture fund SETT, which has already injected €215.6 million into the country’s film, TV, video-game and tech sectors, will explain the benefits of co-investment alongside private partners.
The conference also shines a spotlight on Latin American innovation. Brothers Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín will discuss the groundbreaking TVOD platform Pijama and Rodrigo Teixeira of RT Features will present “From Local to Global,” outlining how projects like the Oscar-winning documentary *I’m Still Here* have moved beyond national borders.
In a new partnership, the festival will collaborate with Cannes’ Marché du Film-Investors Circle to bring a select delegation of private investors to the conference, offering workshops, mentoring and exclusive networking with leading international professionals. San Sebastián film festival director José Luis Rebordinos stresses that such dialogue is essential as the industry navigates rapid change.
Skybound’s NYCC lineup previews the next wave of comics
New York Comic Con, running 8–11 October will feature two major Skybound Entertainment panels that promise early looks at the publisher’s upcoming comic slate and the future of the Energon Universe. The first, “Skybound Comics: Vision for the Future,” takes place on 9 October at 4 p.m. in the Javits Center. Executive Editor Ben Abernathy will moderate a creative team that includes Stephen Graham Jones, Leandro Fernández, Tate Brombal, Matt Emmons and veteran artist Doug Mahnke.
While the exact titles remain under wraps, the assembled talent suggests a mix of genre-bending stories that will build on Skybound’s recent successes with TransformersInvincible and classic monster titles. The following day, a second session titled “Transformers & G.I. Joe: What’s Next for the Energon Universe Comics?” will see Robert Kirkman, Dan Watters, Tom Reilly, Jason Howard and Conor Hughes outline upcoming arcs for the shared universe that blends iconic toy-based franchises with creator-driven storytelling.
Fans can also attend an off-site signing at Midtown Comics Times Square on the evening of 9 October, where creators from the Energon Universe and the upcoming G.I. Joe / Tomb Raider miniseries—including Kyle Higgins, Andrea Milana and others—will meet readers and discuss their upcoming work.
Collectively, these three events illustrate a season of openness: producers are demystifying career routes, financiers are debating how to sustain cross-border investments, and comic publishers are teasing bold new narratives. As the industry continues to blur the lines between mediums, these panels provide a rare glimpse into the strategies that will shape storytelling in the years ahead.
