John Friedberg, president, international at Black Bear, Kezia Williams, managing director for the UK and Ireland at Universal Pictures International (UPI), and Zygi Kamasa, founder and CEO of True Brit Entertainment, will join a panel at Screen International’s second annual film summit.
Titled ‘Building on the UK’s Global Success’, the event will take place on September 30 at the BFI Southbank.
The three top distribution executives will lead a discussion titled ‘The Big Picture’, which will focus on the evolving marketplace for UK film, audience trends, and crafting releases and campaigns for marketplace success.
Friedberg joined US and UK-based production, financing and distribution outfit Black Bear in 2022 to lead its international business with a focus on international sales, UK distribution and international productions. Black Bear has overseen the international sales and distribution of titles including Jason Statham’s A Working Man, Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Michael Mann’s Ferrari and Osgood Perkins’ horror Longlegs. Since entering the UK theatrical distribution market in 2023, the company has released titles including Longlegs, Sing Sing, Conclave and The Salt Path.
Prior to joining Black Bear, Friedberg held senior positions at both STX Entertainment and QED International, where he oversaw the international releases for Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, Hustlers and the Bad Moms franchise.
Williams joined UPI in February and oversees sales, marketing, publicity and finance in the UK and Ireland. Recent UPI releases include Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Jurassic Park: Rebirth and The Ballad Of Wallis Island, while upcoming releases include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Bugonia and Wicked: For Good.
Prior to joining UPI, Williams was most recently managing director at Entertainment One UK, where she oversaw campaigns for multiple Oscar and Bafta winner 1917, The BFG, The Girl On The Train among others. She also previously held marketing roles at Universal and Warner Bros UK.
Kamasa founded UK distributor and producer-financier True Brit in 2023 with the aim of co-financing over $150m of independent UK projects in three years. Its first projects were The Critic and Marching Powder, with upcoming titles including Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma, Craig Roberts’ The Scurry and boxing biopic Giant.
Kamasa has been a leading figure in the UK industry since 1993, when he founded TV production firm Scorpio Productions. He was CEO of Lionsgate UK and Europe for over 15 years, handling UK distribution for films including La La Land, John Wick and The Hunger Games.
Previously confirmed speakers for Screen Summit 2025 include Ben Roberts, chief executive of the British Film Institute, who will give a keynote speech; See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning, Monumental Pictures’ Alison Owen and Ed Guiney from Element Pictures, who will participate in a trailblazing producers panel; and BBC film director Eva Yates, Film4 interim director Farhana Bhula and the BFI Filmmaking Fund’s Mia Bays, who will take part in a session on the UK’s public funders.
Further speakers will be announced in due course, and other topics that will be explored at this year’s Screen Summit include:
- Attracting international financing and partners to UK film
- The role of UK talent in the international market
- Ask the experts, featuring leading voices across production sectors
Visit here to find out more about the event. The early bird ticket offer ends soon.
Screen Summit 2025 event partners are Centtrip, Film Soho, Garden Studios and the UK Global Screen Fund. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Scott Benfold.
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