OKRE connects the film, TV, and gaming industries with researchers and lived experience to create entertainment that sparks real social change

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OKRE Summit 2024: Entertainment to Change the World

Event Date April 24 2024
Location/Platform Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
OKRE Summit 2024: Entertainment to Change the World

OKRE Summit 2024

At OKRE, we know that entertainment can change the world.

And we’re not the only ones who think so. The OKRE Summit brings together speakers from across film, social media, games, audio, television, academic research and charities.

The OKRE Summit is all about collaboration, the future of compelling storytelling and understanding how different generations are connecting with content. This year’s event was a full day of panel discussions, presentations, and deep dives into how we enhance the social and cultural impact of entertainment. We tackled topics at the forefront of the industry, explored the big questions that we can only answer together, and told stories which connected audiences with huge societal issues.

I want to acknowledge how incredible it is for OKRE to bring everyone under the same roof, from commissioning editors to filmmakers to activists to writers… bringing people together and chatting, showing work and playing clips and talking about what they do as well, actually will eventually lead to change

Hassan Akkad

Filmmaker, Author & Comedian

Watch again

30 mins
News, Mental Health, Representation

5) Discussion: Sex in the Morning: shifting depictions and modern perspectives

+ 3
Jeffrey IngoldIsabel Inman + 3 more
40 mins
Events, Summit, Video, Audiences

8) Discussion: How Do We Shift Storytelling with Audiences?

+ 3
Dhruti ShahTara Davanzati + 3 more
Organisations like OKRE are absolutely fundamental…when we think about what’s going to drive a different type of storytelling & more representation, it cannot just be one group figuring that out. It's got to be people who have lived experience, has to be academics, has to be the nonprofit sector, the big entertainment companies.
If all of us work together, then I think we can really push storytelling forward.

Samir Patel

CEO, Comic Relief

Featuring...

Mishal Husain

Award-winning broadcaster, presenter and author

Fatima Salaria

TV Executive

Sara Putt

Chair of BAFTA

Andy Brereton

Senior Comedy Commissioning Editor, Channel 4

Marcus Ryder

CEO of Film and TV Charity & Chair of RADA

Natasha Bondy

Co-Founder/Creative Director - Little Gem

Jordan Gray

Actor, Comedian & Screenwriter

David Brindley

Chief Creative Officer, Twofour

Ita O’Brien

Intimacy Practitioner

Jo Hamilton

Former Subpostmistress

Debbie Manners

Executive Producer, MOTHERBOARD

Antonia Belcher

Founder of the Antonia & Andrea Belcher Trans Fund

Ari Cagan

Creator of Cobell Energy

Rhianna Dillon

Film Critic

Hamid Ibrahim

CEO, Kugali Media

Imran Hussain

Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs, Refugee Council 

Patrick Spence

Managing Director, AC Chapter One & Executive Producer, Mr Bates vs The Post Office 

Polly Hill

Head of Drama, ITV

Isabel Inman

Assistant Director of Communications, Policy & Public Affairs, Brook

Elle Osili-Wood

Television and Radio Presenter

Dr Afroditi Pina

Reader in Forensic Psychology

Brian Waniewski

Executive Director, Harmony Labs

Sam Joly

Head of Marketing and Publicity, See-Saw Films

Victoria Mapplebeck

Artist and Director, MOTHERBOARD

Dr. Marcia Brophy

Global Mental Health and Innovation Specialist, UNICEF

Dom Matthews

Studio Head, Ninja Theory

Hassan Akkad

Filmmaker, Author, & Comedian

Sarah McCaffrey

Founder - Solas Mind

George Jaques

Actor/Director/Writer/Producer & Founder of Athenaeum Productions

Corey Brotherson

Writer & Narrative Designer, Windrush Tales

Lorraine Ní Annracháin

Global Campaigns & Programmes Lead, Spotify

Sofia Akel

Cultural Historian, Producer and Writer

Jeffrey Ingold

LGBTQ+ Media Consultant

Glaire Anderson

Games Industry Consultant (Ubisoft, University of Edinburgh)

Maxine Thomas-Asante

Approaches Manager - Pop Culture at Comic Relief

Daniel Edwards

Casting Director

Ruby Kuraishe

Entertainment Commissioner, BBC

Sarah Asante

Scripted Commissioning Editor, UKTV

Tara Davanzati

Head of Brand Insight & Social Analytics, BBC

K Biswas

Editor of Representology: The Journal of Media & Diversity and Chair of Resonance FM will chair Beyond Drama

Hannah Jarrett-Scott

Actor

Alex Gray

Service Head - Head of Volunteer Operations and Participation - NSPCC

Programme

Great Show, Great Impact: Mr Bates Vs The Post Office

The most talked-about drama of the year that captivated a nation. What can we learn from the making of the show, the collaboration with lived experience and its ongoing impact?

Mishal Husain

Award-winning broadcaster, presenter and author

Natasha Bondy

Co-Founder/Creative Director - Little Gem

Jo Hamilton

Former Subpostmistress

Patrick Spence

Managing Director, AC Chapter One & Executive Producer, Mr Bates vs The Post Office 

Polly Hill

Head of Drama, ITV

What’s next for Mental Health & Entertainment?

What are the challenges and opportunities of engaging with mental health in different forms of entertainment – both creatively and in terms of impact? How does entertainment bring authentic compelling portrayals of issues to existing and new audiences?

Marcus Ryder

CEO of Film and TV Charity & Chair of RADA

Andy Brereton

Senior Comedy Commissioning Editor, Channel 4

Dom Matthews

Studio Head, Ninja Theory

Kate Martin

Head of Lived Experience, Wellcome Trust

OKRE Focus: My Blonde GF

My Blonde GF is a short film supported by OKRE that explores the lived experience and mental health impact of non-consensual deepfake pornography and image-based abuse.

OKRE supported this film, produced by Tyke Films and funded by BFI Doc Society, through the OKRE Fund and by connecting filmmakers with researchers through the OKRE Network, including Dr Afroditi Pina who conducts research in forensic and social psychology on the areas of sexual violence, gender equality and victimisation.

Rebecca Mark-Lawson

Producer, Tyke Films

Rosie Morris

Filmmaker

Dr Afroditi Pina

Reader in Forensic Psychology

Changing the world together: Supporting long term impact in film, games and television

How can we work together to support a positive and impactful future for film, games and television industries? What are the opportunities for cross sector collaborations and how do entertainment industries and the charity sector seize this moment?

Sara Putt

Chair of BAFTA

Iain Dodgeon

Director, OKRE

Sex in the Morning: shifting depictions and modern perspectives

Dive into the world of sex and sexuality in entertainment and explore the collaborations going on behind the scenes. From the essential line in your production budget for intimacy coordinators, to working with charities on sexual health issues, and depicting diverse sexual identities and relationships.

Sam Joly

Head of Marketing and Publicity, See-Saw Films

Ita O’Brien

Intimacy Practitioner

Jeffrey Ingold

LGBTQ+ Media Consultant

Sarah McCaffrey

Founder - Solas Mind

Isabel Inman

Assistant Director of Communications, Policy & Public Affairs, Brook

OKRE Focus: Windrush Tales

Supported by OKRE, Windrush Tales is the world’s first game based on the Windrush generation: a narrative game that reflects the arrival of Caribbean immigrants who were invited to rebuild post-war Britain between 1948 and 1970.

Corey Brotherson

Writer & Narrative Designer, Windrush Tales

Beyond Drama: Lessons from representation in entertainment

Can we help audiences understand topical subjects while delivering the entertainment they’re seeking? Horror, comedy, animation, factual entertainment, sci fi...a look at representation of global issues in diverse genre development.

Hamid Ibrahim

CEO, Kugali Media

Hassan Akkad

Filmmaker, Author, & Comedian

Imran Hussain

Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs, Refugee Council 

Ruby Kuraishe

Entertainment Commissioner, BBC

K Biswas

Editor of Representology: The Journal of Media & Diversity and Chair of Resonance FM will chair Beyond Drama

Sarah Asante

Scripted Commissioning Editor, UKTV

How do we shift storytelling with audiences?

Are entertainment industries keeping pace with fresh calls for authenticity and creativity? How are genres evolving to meet changing perspectives and demands for better narrative, ultimately serving audiences better?

Dhruti Shah

Journalist, Broadcaster, Author

Fatima Salaria

TV Executive

Maxine Thomas-Asante

Approaches Manager - Pop Culture at Comic Relief

Brian Waniewski

Executive Director, Harmony Labs

Tara Davanzati

Head of Brand Insight & Social Analytics, BBC

OKRE Focus: MOTHERBOARD

MOTHERBOARD is a smartphone feature about motherhood, recorded over nearly 20 years. Supported by OKRE, this film charts the trials, traumas and occasional triumphs of lone parenting. It’s a celebration of messy lives, single parenthood, and proof that epic journeys can begin and end at home.

Victoria Mapplebeck

Artist and Director, MOTHERBOARD

Debbie Manners

Executive Producer, MOTHERBOARD

Think digitally, think generationally, think differently

How do we engage young audiences with societal issues like migration, poverty and the climate crisis whilst avoiding negatively impacting their mental health? A look at different platforms, formats and content in progress.

Sofia Akel

Cultural Historian, Producer and Writer

Glaire Anderson

Games Industry Consultant (Ubisoft, University of Edinburgh)

Lorraine Ní Annracháin

Global Campaigns & Programmes Lead, Spotify

Dr. Marcia Brophy

Global Mental Health and Innovation Specialist, UNICEF

Ari Cagan

Creator of Cobell Energy

OKRE Focus: Black Dog

Explore the process of collaborating with lived experience and experts to support a tender depiction of grief and loss in this OKRE-supported first feature from George Jaques that premiered at last year’s London Film Festival.

George Jaques

Actor/Director/Writer/Producer & Founder of Athenaeum Productions

Rhianna Dillon

Film Critic

Alex Gray

Service Head - Head of Volunteer Operations and Participation - NSPCC

A Kind Queer Heart: Empowering and Funding New Stories

Plug into impactful projects that have sparked change, engage with commissioners and LGBTQ+ voices to explore what's missing and unlock new funding to expand the landscape of modern and compassionate queer storytelling.

David Brindley

Chief Creative Officer, Twofour

Daniel Edwards

Casting Director

Antonia Belcher

Founder of the Antonia & Andrea Belcher Trans Fund

Hannah Jarrett-Scott

Actor

Elle Osili-Wood

Television and Radio Presenter

Closing Keynote

Performance from...

Jordan Gray

Actor, Comedian & Screenwriter

OKRE Summit 2024: Full Lineup

Mishal Husain

Award-winning broadcaster, presenter and author

Fatima Salaria

TV Executive

David Brindley

Chief Creative Officer, Twofour

Sara Putt

Chair of BAFTA

Marcus Ryder

CEO of Film and TV Charity & Chair of RADA

Natasha Bondy

Co-Founder/Creative Director - Little Gem

Andy Brereton

Senior Comedy Commissioning Editor, Channel 4

Jordan Gray

Actor, Comedian & Screenwriter

Lorraine Ní Annracháin

Global Campaigns & Programmes Lead, Spotify

Ita O’Brien

Intimacy Practitioner

Daniel Edwards

Casting Director

Hassan Akkad

Filmmaker, Author, & Comedian

Dom Matthews

Studio Head, Ninja Theory

Glaire Anderson

Games Industry Consultant (Ubisoft, University of Edinburgh)

Maxine Thomas-Asante

Approaches Manager - Pop Culture at Comic Relief

Sofia Akel

Cultural Historian, Producer and Writer

Dr. Marcia Brophy

Global Mental Health and Innovation Specialist, UNICEF

Jeffrey Ingold

LGBTQ+ Media Consultant

Rebecca Mark-Lawson

Producer, Tyke Films

Corey Brotherson

Writer & Narrative Designer, Windrush Tales

George Jaques

Actor/Director/Writer/Producer & Founder of Athenaeum Productions

Sarah McCaffrey

Founder - Solas Mind

Victoria Mapplebeck

Artist and Director, MOTHERBOARD

Elle Osili-Wood

Television and Radio Presenter

Dr Afroditi Pina

Reader in Forensic Psychology

Sam Joly

Head of Marketing and Publicity, See-Saw Films

Kate Martin

Head of Lived Experience, Wellcome Trust

Dhruti Shah

Journalist, Broadcaster, Author

Rosie Morris

Filmmaker

Isabel Inman

Assistant Director of Communications, Policy & Public Affairs, Brook

Polly Hill

Head of Drama, ITV

Patrick Spence

Managing Director, AC Chapter One & Executive Producer, Mr Bates vs The Post Office 

Imran Hussain

Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs, Refugee Council 

Hamid Ibrahim

CEO, Kugali Media

Rhianna Dillon

Film Critic

Antonia Belcher

Founder of the Antonia & Andrea Belcher Trans Fund

Debbie Manners

Executive Producer, MOTHERBOARD

Jo Hamilton

Former Subpostmistress

Ruby Kuraishe

Entertainment Commissioner, BBC

K Biswas

Editor of Representology: The Journal of Media & Diversity and Chair of Resonance FM will chair Beyond Drama

Tara Davanzati

Head of Brand Insight & Social Analytics, BBC

Sarah Asante

Scripted Commissioning Editor, UKTV

Hannah Jarrett-Scott

Actor

Alex Gray

Service Head - Head of Volunteer Operations and Participation - NSPCC
Event Date April 24 2024
Location/Platform Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building

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