SXSW London has confirmed a high-profile lineup of keynote speakers for its upcoming event, featuring acclaimed actress and writer Sharon Horgan, celebrated television writer Russell T Davies, and Neon CEO and founder Tom Quinn.

Industry Leaders Take the Stage as Keynotes

Sharon Horgan and Russell T Davies

Sharon Horgan, a multi-BAFTA award-winning actress, writer, producer, and director, will be featured. Her upcoming project involves starring as a 50-year-old divorcee seeking love while managing parental care and adult children.

Russell T Davies is recognized for his significant contributions to television writing. His accolades include the 2006 Dennis Potter Award at BAFTA and an OBE received in the Queen’s 2008 Birthday Honours list for services to drama.

Neon CEO Tom Quinn

Tom Quinn, the CEO and founder of the streaming service Neon, established the company in 2017. Under his leadership, Neon has achieved substantial critical success over the last nine years.

The company boasts 57 Oscar nominations and 11 total wins, including two for Best Picture. Furthermore, Neon has secured the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for six consecutive years, including the most recent award.

SXSW London Screen Festival Debuts

Global Focus and International Talent

Organizers also unveiled the initial selection of films scheduled for the Screen Festival, emphasizing a commitment to global storytelling. The 2025 edition aims to represent over 43 countries, with films from 22 nations already confirmed for this year.

This international programming reflects London's multicultural nature and seeks to connect emerging global talent with the U.K. creative industry, according to organizers.

Vision for the Screen Festival

Anna Bogutskaya, Head of Screen at SXSW London, detailed the festival's broader mission. She stated that the event is designed to serve as a bridge between international talent and the U.K., and between film and other creative sectors like music, art, and technology.

Bogutskaya added that the curated program celebrates filmmakers who are actively exploring and expanding the boundaries of filmmaking. The goal is to bring the “electricity of discovering something truly groundbreaking” to London audiences this summer.

World Premiere Selections

The first wave of announced films includes a diverse slate of international features:

  • A documentary narrated by Marco Pierre White about London restaurant ‘Angelina’ striving for a Michelin Star.
  • A horror film where a caregiver's attempt to save his mother unleashes a supernatural entity.
  • A dark comedy where two people steal a killer’s car, a dead body, and $40,000 following a blind date.
  • A story about four teenage girls forming a resistance gang in a country where chewing gum is illegal.
  • In Kazakhstan, 17-year-old Mila risks everything to maintain her place on an open-water swimming team after escaping a chaotic home.
  • A drama following a drifter and a reserved driver hauling freight across northern Mexico, threatened by the drifter’s past.
  • A story of a man seeking forgiveness and testing his marriage after a tragic mistake leads to isolation and potential prison time.
  • Twelve-year-old Janna’s journey to Mecca with her grandmother Sitti, involving an urgent search for her vanished sister Sarah that uncovers deep family secrets.
  • In crumbling Caracas, Adelaida must risk her identity to survive after armed militia seize her home following her mother's death (U.K. Premiere).
  • A couple who fake a terminal illness for a viral charity campaign find their lie spiraling out of control as donations increase.
  • A look at the Masters of Musical Whistling competition, following quirky personalities vying for global supremacy.
  • Siblings Lucía and Adrián hide in a remote mansion, discovering their neighbors run a criminal ring kidnapping teens for snuff films.
  • Dancer Lluís Garau’s performance, La Carn, blurs the lines between his online life via random video calls and his real life (U.K. Premiere).
  • A bold wargame, Intelligence Rising, featuring global experts and AI leader Marc Warner exploring how artificial intelligence might reshape global power.