Sofitel Hotel, St. James

Saturday, October 20-------Aside from the glitz and the glamour that every film festival must muster to keep the crowds excited and newspaper editors interested, the London Film Festival is offering filmmakers and producers a number of opportunities to network with film professionals and the international press. While most are somewhat formal seminars and master class talks, the most cozy by far are the Filmmaker Breakfasts, which are held at The Sofitel Hotel in St. James. There are seven of these get-togethers planned during the Festival's two-week period, giving both UK and visiting filmmakers an informal way of meeting one another and promoting their works to attending distributors and press.

I am not yet in London (the enchantments of the Rome Film Festival are currently occupying my mind and my laptop), but I do look forward to making the rounds at several of these eat-and-greet affairs. Hats off to the Festival for providing an informal way for people to network. From such casual gatherings comes the stuff of professional liaisons, distribution pick-ups and the odd press rave. And by the way, I take my coffee black.

Sandy Mandelberger, London FF Dailies Editor