Film makers and film lovers, come one, come all - you're invited to BFI Southbank on Thursday 8th November to load your brain with top tips and advice from film industry experts.

This year for the first time ever, we're opening our doors (well, the BFI's doors) to you lovely lot and putting on a bumper crop of panel sessions aimed at helping you become the best film maker you can be. We'll be joined by some very clever people, including the British Council and London Film Festival.

And the best thing? It's all free. And the other best thing? You can come to as many sessions as you like. You just have to register here and you're good to go.

Win tickets to the Shorts Awards

Once you've registered, send us a tweet with #VMShortsSessions and tell us which session(s) you're attending - you could win a pair of tickets to the snazzy Shorts Awards ceremony in the evening! Just make sure you're following @VMShorts and give us a shout.

So, which of these Shorts Sessions tickles your fancy?

THE SESSIONS

SESSION 1 (13:00-14:00)
The writer / director dynamic:  In conversation with a writer /director team

A session covering the relationship between writer and director when making a Short:  Where do you look for creative collaborators?  How do you start a dialogue about a project?  How and when do you know you’ve found the right person to work with?  Developing a project together, how does it work?  The differences between a writer developing their own original idea, a writer working from a Director’s idea or working on an adaptation.  The writer’s role in production..  Sustaining on going relationships between writers and directors

• Chaired by Caroline Cooper-Charles (Creative England)
• With Jason Wingard (2011 Virgin Media Shorts winner) and David Isaac (writer)

Register for this session now

SESSION 2  (14:15-15:15)
From Script to Screen -  a guide to getting your Short made

A session designed to help filmmakers build a comprehensive game plan of how to get their film made, providing practical, useful and relevant advice on everything from developing a production schedule to location scouting to legal clearances.  Our panel of experts will talk about new schemes and funding opportunities for filmmakers and what a successful funding application looks like.

• Chaired by Rebecca Mark Lawson (Virgin Media Shorts curator)
• With Jude Goldrei (FilmClub) and Michael Berliner (producer)

SORRY THIS SESSION IS FULL!

SESSION 3  (15:30-16:30)
Making your film successful – the secrets of distribution and exhibition

How do you go about finding your audience and increasing your film (and your own) profile?  Covering film festivals, short film sales agents, digital streaming, screening events, branded competitions. Giving a rounded view of how to get your film out, providing the all important do’s and don’ts

• Chaired by Jude Goldrei
• With Phillip Ilson (London Film Festival), Siobhan O'Brien (Virgin Media Shorts), Will Massa (British Council) and a special guest from Dazzle

SORRY THIS SESSION IS FULL!

SESSION 4  (13:00-14:00)
Case Study: Virgin Media Shorts winner Luke Snellin

The Virgin Media Shorts Grand Prize winner 2009 shares his experiences in the industry as in independent filmmaker, focusing on his career from Virgin Media Shorts to BAFTA nomination and examines the distribution of his film ‘Mixtape’. 

• Chaired by Jamie Madge from ‘The Reel’

Register for this session now

SESSION 5  (14:15-15:15)
Beyond Shorts : from Short Film to feature

Regan Hall and Mat Whitecross discuss making the transition from Short film to feature length, the pitfalls to avoid and the tips they wish they’d known

• Chaired by Caroline Cooper-Charles
• With Regan Hall (Virgin Media finalist 2009 and director of ‘Fast Girls’) and Mat Whitecross (Virgin Media Shorts 2012 judge and director of  ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’ and Spike Island) 

Register for this session now