The UK’s New Black Film Collective XPO 2025 officially commenced yesterday, March 24, bringing together speakers, including Warner Bros Discovery’s training and skills director Rico Johnson-Sinclair, BFI’s director of inclusion Melanie Hoyes and Embankment’s international sales and marketing executive Clare Harris.
Founded by Priscilla Igwe, a Nigerian film industry expert, the five-day hybrid programme features a diverse lineup of talks, interactive sessions, pitching opportunities, and networking events.
The event kicked off with an evening launch at Channel 4’s headquarters and will continue today and tomorrow at London’s Rich Mix, followed by a day of virtual roundtables overseen by the UK Global Screen Fund.
Igwe expressed her gratitude, saying: “We are pleased to have the support of the industry that are still interested in positive change come to our event and advocate for equality and representation, despite the recent EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] rollbacks happening in the US and spreading to the UK.”
She added: “We must continue to stand together and pull down barriers so we can all take part in an equitable future.”
The Rich Mix lineup features a roundtable discussion with former BBC executive Terry Jervis, alongside chair of Bectu’s Black member’s subcommittee and producer Faisal Qureshi, Directors’ UK representative Avril Evans, and founder of the British Urban Film Festival, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe.
Anita Herbert, impact partnership programme manager at the Film and TV Charity, will discuss the upcoming iteration of the Reel Impact fund. She will be joined on stage by a panel of industry experts, including Ijeoma Akigwe from the NFTS, Miranda Wayland from the Creative Diversity Network, and Rico Johnson-Sinclair from Warner Bros Discovery.
The lineup of speakers also includes Morgana Melvin and Vicki Brown from the BFI Filmmaking Fund, Briony Hanson from the British Council, Chee Cheung from Sovereign Films, Lala Akindoju, Delphine Lievens, and Tolu Stedford.
The inaugural XPO took place in partnership with Film London. Adrian Wootton, Film London’s chief executive, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driving positive change, stating, “We remain utterly committed to that agenda, reaffirming our continuing belief, passion and commitment to creating as many opportunities for our multiple and diverse London communities through studies, skills training and jobs.”
