Film Council chief executive John Woodward, FilmFour head Paul Webster and producers Andrew Macdonald and Duncan Kenworthy are amongst the UK industry heavyweights taking part in panel discussions on the local film sector at the upcoming Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The seminars, part of the festival's bid to raise its profile with the film industry, will include a panel discussion titled The State of the British Film Industry: A Nation Mourns. Held under the banner Film UK, discussions will also cover the three National Lottery studio franchises, which are undergoing or approaching mid-term reviews, and the recently established public support super body the Film Council.

Webster will chair the discussion on the state on the UK industry, which will include New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell. The franchises will be defended by representatives including Macdonald and Kenworthy, who head DNA Films, Graeme Mason of Universal Pictures International, which co-funds DNA; Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken, recently installed as heads of Pathe Pictures; and Chris Auty and Richard Holmes, who run The Film Consortium.

Meanwhile, Bertrand Moullier, head of film at producers body PACT, will put questions to Woodward about the Film Council.

Other issues the festival is to address include the internet and a supposed lack of children's films being made. A teaching programme will track the production process from script to screen and include a session on pitching.

The festival runs August 13-27.