Dogstar Film and Media Exchange 2027
5 and 6 May 2027, Manchester
Venue to be announced
Creative talent, commercial partners, technical expertise and capital, brought together to turn ambitious ideas into investable, producible and deliverable projects.
The Dogstar Film and Media Exchange is a new House of Dogstar event, designed around practical connections, collaboration and action across the creative industries.
Day 1 morning: Storyworlds
Franchise thinking, transmedia, audience-building and the commercial weight of a world that can live across film, TV, games, publishing and live experience.
Day 1 afternoon: Co-production
Territory partners, rights, incentives, packaging and how to build a slate that travels further than one country.
Day 2 morning: Financing
The finance stack, private capital, funds, incentives, recoupment and risk, with investor pitching built in.
Day 2 afternoon: Brands x Content
Branded entertainment, long-form content, shared values and what real brand investment looks like.
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: The Creative Entrepreneur
Build a business around your talent instead of waiting for one to find you. We'll cover positioning, owning your IP, pricing your work, pitching with confidence, and making the leap from freelancer to founder.
The Value of Non-Execs and Advisors
The right non-executive directors and advisors can change the shape of a creative business. Hear from founders and board members about what good advice looks like, how governance helps rather than hinders, and how to find the right people for your next stage of growth.
Protect What You Make
Your ideas, scripts, formats and characters are the most valuable things you own, so make sure you keep them. A practical session on rights, contracts and ownership, covering option agreements, chain of title, what to check before you sign with a platform, brand or partner, and what AI means for who owns what.
Funny Business: The Comedy Strand
Comedy is one of the most commercially successful genres in film and TV, and the North has always been at the heart of it. Across both days, we'll look at how comedy gets made, funded and sold today, from stage to podcast to screen, and end the first day with the laughs.
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