Now entering its third year, Pilot Light TV Festival opens with the Season 2 premiere of the critically acclaimed Westworld, in partnership with Sky Atlantic, which will be shown in glorious 4k on the big screen in HOME’s Cinema 2.
Also being celebrated at the festival is Arrow TV’s Gomorrah, the inside story of fierce crime organisation the Camorra, widely regarded as one of the best European foreign language TV shows of all time.
Salford-born Christopher Eccleston (Shallow Grave, 28 Days Later, Cracker, Doctor Who) appears at the festival in conversation with the University of Salford School of Arts and Media’s Dr Kirsty Fairclough, discussing his small screen triumphs and experiences across his definitive career.
Michael Cumming: Director’s Commentary sees the ground-breaking director return to Pilot Light with a unique show and tell, discussing some of his favourite work including Brass Eye, Toast of London, The Mark Thomas Project, Snuff Box, and the Mark Steel Lectures.
This year, Pilot Light introduces the In-Memoriam strand, dedicated to celebrating and mourning outstanding series that left us too soon, with those who brought them into this world. This first edition celebrates Dennis Kelly’s Utopia, a beautiful, brutal and captivating British conspiracy thriller cancelled after only two short series. Following a screening of the first episode, creator Dennis Kelly is joined by the shows cast and crew for an exclusive Q and A.
There will also be a series of awards at the Pilot Light Festival. This year the inaugural Excellence in Television Award goes to Julie Hesmondhalgh, known for her exceptional and trail-blazing roles in Coronation Street, Broadchurch, Inside No.9, Happy Valley and Cucumber. She will appear at the festival in conversation about her performances and the stories behind her incredible career.
Pilot Light TV Festival once again champions work from the next generation of storytellers from across the globe, screening under-seen projects in order to get them in front of both the TV industry and TV fans. All the shows selected and screened, in six blocks across the festival, are in competition for the festival’s Best TV Pilots and Best Web Series Awards with the winners announced at the festival’s closing event.
This year, Pilot Light has an extended series of panels and workshops to provide insight into the TV industry for those looking to break through, discussions of the essential topics all producers and broadcasters are considering, and behind the scenes of some iconic shows.
For full listings of all the screenings, discussions and general goings on please head to their website which you can access here.
HOME, Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
0161 200 1500
www.homemcr.org
