With the BBC and Channel 4 investments in the North of England there has never been a better time to kick start a career in TV across the whole of the North. But how do you get your foot in the door and once it’s there how do you ensure you make the most of it and have a career that’s sustainable and successful?

Broadcasters and recruitment specialists deliver helpful tips on how to get started  and pointers to schemes, bursaries and initiatives aimed at creating the next generation of media talent.

If you would like to book tickets for this event individually, rather than the conference as a whole, please email boxoffice@bradfordlitfest.co.uk

About The Speakers

Fiona Fung

Fiona has worked in the TV industry for over 10 years, all with the help of thinkBIGGER!’s Channel4’s Production Training Scheme where she worked with Matchlight Productions in Glasgow. After a move to Manchester, she worked at the BBC across a variety of genres, working on factual entertainment Children’s TV, to scripted comedy, and live studio education shows. Since leaving the BBC in 2019, she has worked on a variety of shows from motoring show Fifth Gear, BAFTA-winning daytime hit The Great House Giveaway, reality show The Circle, and now works as Business Manager for ThinkBIGGER!

Jacqui Griffin

Jacqui Griffin is a British-American filmmaker and researcher. Jacqui is a long-time contributor to the international online film publication Film Inquiry (www.filminquiry.com), focusing mostly on feature articles and the occasional film review. Additionally, they founded the Drunken Film Fest or DFFB (www.drunkenfilmfest.com) in Bradford which runs every August and has since branched out to include a yearly festival in Oakland, California (DFFO) as well. Most recently, they can be found working as the Screen Advisor for the Channel 4/Bradford Council funded space for content creators in Bradford district, The Unit. 

Beena Khetani

Beena Khetani (Talent Executive for Factual at BBC Studios)

Beena Khetani’s TV experience is varied, having worked on content spanning Current Affairs to Children’s, Specialist Factual to Sport. In audio, she worked on programming for Radio 4, National Prison Radio and Jazz FM. Beena now specialises in head hunting the best editorial freelancers from across the UK and occasionally overseas – from Runners right through to Executive Producers. Her remit covers Observational Documentaries, Specialist Factual, Popular Factual, Current Affairs, Development and Factual Podcasts. Beena strives to create opportunities for those underrepresented in our industry and she is particularly passionate about growing talent in the North. Beena sits on the steering committee for the TV Talent North Facebook group.

Beena co-founded Sonder Radio, a social enterprise catering to isolated older people in Greater Manchester. She was also a Non-Executive Director for the multi-award winning Reform Radio and is currently Chair for Art with Heart CIC.

Headshot of Cat Lewis

Cat Lewis

Cat Lewis is a widely experienced Executive Producer for television.  Cat has worked across many channels including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.  In 2007 she launched her own Greater Manchester based independent production company called Nine Lives Media, and has won numerous awards including two Baftas, a national RTS, and an International Emmy.  Nine Lives supports regionally produced programmes and encourages the development of young talent in the sector.  In partnership with Avanti Media, the company won the 2017 bidding process to deliver Songs of Praise, and the re-launch of this national brand has been highly acclaimed.