Students at Goldsmiths will come face to face with leaders of the British media, at a series of public debates on the future of the industry organised by the college’s Department of Media and Communications.

The debates will feature important industry figures such as Stewart Till CBE, chief executive of the biggest film distributor in the world, United International Pictures, documentary filmmaker Paul Watson, and Robert Jones, producer of films including Run Fatboy Run, The Constant Gardener and Vera Drake.

Professor Julian Henriques, senior lecturer of the department said: “The debates presents an opportunity for the students to get themselves noticed, to show their ideas to the media leaders and to see what is happening in the industry.”

“It’s a chance for the new generation of documentarists and film makers and to meet behind the camera the people who are leading the media in the UK.”

The first debate, chaired by Stewart Till, will discuss the future of film and is entitled, ‘These are glorious times for the British Film Industry: True or false?’. Film producer Robert Jones and BBC Films’ creative director Christine Langan are to argue in favour, and standing against the discussion is Paul Trijbits, producer of films such as Tamara Drewe, Fish Tank, and Brick Lane.

The second discussion,  ‘What is the future for documentary in the UK?’, will be chaired by Elizabeth Wood, founder of Dochouse, the non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting new documentary filmmakers which is co-sponsoring the debates. Panelists are to include director Paul Watson, commissioning editor for Channel 4 Aysha Rafaele, and director of Renegade Pictures Alex Cooke.

The first two debates will take place on February 3 and 17, at 5:30pm in LG02, followed by a drinks reception for the opening of Goldsmiths’ New Academic Building. The date of the third debate on the Future of Journalism is to be announced soon.

Admission is free but you have to register via e-mail: z.arabadji@gold.ac.uk