Panel: How Actors Become Filmmakers

KINO SHORT FILM, UK ACTORS TWEETUP and GREENLIT have teamed up to host a panel discussing how actors are launching their careers by making their own films instead of waiting to be cast in someone else's. Learn how you too can make your own film and launch your career.

The panel will be moderated by Angela Peters, founder of the UK ACTORS TWEETUP AND TWEETFEST FILM FESTIVAL.

PANELISTS will include -

TOTO BRUIN:

Toto Bruin is a British actor and writer, born and raised in South West London. She is most notably known as Lucy Tozer in Russell T Davies' drama It’s A Sin, whilst her other screen credits include: The Great (Hulu) and Father Brown (BBC). Her theatre credits include Young Vic shows: The Suppliant Women, and Twelfth Night. Toto began working as a writer in 2019, and has written numerous pieces for screen and stage. Her writing debut Pelicans starring Edward Bluemel (Sex Education, Killing Eve) is currently in the short film festival circuit (Women X, Exit 6, Kino Shorts, Shortest Nights, Peoples Film Festival) and has been nominated for Best Film, Best Writing, and Best Ensemble. Her next short Not A Mourning Person, directed by Charlotte Hamblin- starring Toto herself, with Tara Fitzgerald (Game of Thrones, Exodus: God and Kings) and an exciting ensemble cast, has recently wrapped filming. She loves writing almost as much as she loves sausage rolls!

STUART MACKIE ELLIS:

Since 1999, Stuart Mackie Ellis has starred in TV shows, independent films, theatre and 80 commercials worldwide. He has written a handful of short films, and 3 plays produced in London theatres. Recently Stuart played twins in Under, a film that has just won awards at Toronto and London Independent Film Festivals, and he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in the horror comedy There's a Monster Behind You. He and his wife, Sophia, established the production company Radar Screen to produce their own films. They are currently in pre-production for his latest film, The Final Chapter of Madness.

AILISH CASTILLO:

Born in Cork, Ireland, Ailish Castillo started out in the industry as an actress, starring in major theatres such as The National Theatre, London, The Lyric Theatre, Belfast and The Gate Theatre, Dublin. She was awarded for her roles at The Irish Times Theatre Awards and was Highly Commended at the Ian Charleston Awards, London.

She played roles in Film, TV and radio for the BBC and the Irish Film Board.

Now London based, she has since added more strings to her bow by setting up her own production company, LionBear Films. She wrote and co-directed “The Widow” which was received well in over 14 film festivals world wide. She has gone on to produce two more multi award winning short films and is currently producing/directing a documentary, “Where the wind takes us.”

GRACE PARRY:

Grace Parry is an actress and filmmaker, originally from Norfolk. Her TV credits include Killed By My Debt (BBC), Fantasy series ‘Whatever After’ and “Perfect Match”, a comedy short she created and starred in which aired on Comedy Central.

Her most recent project is ‘Outsiders’, a short film she wrote, produced, directed and starred in. The film explores the tumultuous journey of an upcoming actress desperate to find her place in the world- and indeed, the film Industry. On this path, she is forced to confront the lengths that she’s willing to go in order to be seen.

Book your place now!