DCF Anchor Event: Made in the North Summit & Exhibition

Bringing together the North's powerhouse media, production and broadcast sectors for a day of actionable insights and collaboration.

Part of Digital City Festival 2024

The last 10 years are an undisputed story of success for the North of England’s media and broadcast sectors, as perceptions have now shifted to position the North as ‘the place to be’ on an international stage. The ecosystem is rich and diverse from established players, increased representation from public service broadcasting, and an array of indies bubbling innovation across the board from production to gaming, esports, immersive tech and more.

But this isn’t the full picture. Like it or not, we are in a state of flux with challenges of all sorts rolling in from access to investment, fragmented collaboration, external competition and talent shortages to name a few.

Join us in a must-attend conference in Mediacity, that will unite Northern media producers and showcase some of the wonderful talent the North has to offer.

The event will see leaders in the media and broadcasting sectors come together for a thought-provoking discussion on how the industry can work together better and consolidate the existing success. Where do we all go from here and how can you get involved? Consider this your call to arms as time is of the essence!

Full coverage and key takeaways from the event will be available across all our Prolific North channels post event.

Agenda

10:00

Event Opens

10:15

The impact of AI on creativity and the creative industry

As AI is integrating rapidly into various aspects of our lives, its impact on creativity and people within the creative industry becomes increasingly nuanced. This panel discussion will explore how AI is reshaping the creative landscape, exploring both challenges and opportunities it presents.

Panellists:
- Criss Richards, Creative Technologist at McCann Manchester
- Steve Henderson, Director & CEO of the Manchester Animation Festival
- Laura Harper, Partner, Digital, Commerce and Creative at Lewis Silkin LLP
- David Holt, Voice over artist & actor

11:00

What is the direction of travel for sustainable productions?

At a time where media consumption is at an all-time high, sustainability has become a pressing concern. From television shows to live events, the broadcast industry plays a significant role in shaping public discourse and cultural narratives. But amidst this influence, what is the direction of travel for sustainable broadcast productions? Whether you're a seasoned sustainability advocate or new to the journey, join this talk to learn how industry leaders are navigating this transformative journey and gain actionable strategies to propel your organisation towards a more sustainable future.

Panellists:
- Zen Barry Sustainability Manager - Production at BBC
- Rob Page - Managing Director of Space Studios
- Lily Limmer - Sustainability Manager - Picture Zero

11:30

Importance of Face-to-Face Experiences in a Digital World

Digital communication offers convenience, innovation and efficiency but face to face experiences remain essential for fostering human connection, meaningful relationships and maximising opportunities for success. We’ll explore how important this is and the role face to face has to play in our digital future.

- Jo Madeley, Managing Director at Cascade
- Andy Unsworth, Content Producer at Cascade

13:00

Made in the North Summit opens