MIFF Means Business
Workshops & Master Classes · 21st Marbella International Film Festival
Three sessions built to help independent film-makers turn creative ideas into commercial opportunities. All three are included with an Industry or VIP pass.
Fund Your Film · Director’s Cut · Acting on Camera Masterclass
Fund Your Film
Panel discussion · Where are the investors for my film?
The question every independent producer is asking.
Independent filmmakers are moving faster than ever, producing ambitious films across a wide range of budgets and finding new ways to bring projects to the screen.
The real question is no longer simply: “Is funding available?” but “How do I position my project to attract it?”
This practical workshop explores how filmmakers and producers can develop a realistic financing strategy and understand the different routes available to take a project from script to screen.
The objective is not simply to talk about raising money, but to help filmmakers understand what is realistically achievable, how to package their project, and how to give investors a reason to take it seriously.
Mac Chakaveh — Festival Director, Marbella International Film Festival
Mac brings more than 30 years of experience as an investor, executive producer and promoter within the film and media industries.
As Director of the Marbella International Film Festival (MIFF) for the past 21 years, Mac has had the opportunity to work with and advise filmmakers, producers and creative teams at different stages of project development, from early concepts and financing strategies through to production, promotion and international exposure.
His experience has given him a practical understanding of the challenges independent filmmakers face when trying to turn a creative project into a commercially viable proposition.
Mac will chair the panel discussion, focusing on how producers can develop a realistic and persuasive business plan, position their projects effectively and create a strategy designed to attract potential investors and funding partners.
His contribution will centre on one key question:
How do you turn a good film idea into an investable business proposition?
Zach Rothwell — Director, High Fliers Films | Co-Founder, Hiway
Zach Rothwell is a Director of High Fliers Films, described as Europe’s longest-standing independent film distributor.
With more than 16 years of experience in film sales and distribution, Zach has personally overseen the release of over 1,000 titles, giving him extensive first-hand knowledge of how independent films are positioned, marketed and brought to audiences.
Now expanding further into production, he brings a valuable distribution-first perspective to the development of original films with strong international potential.
Zach is also Co-Founder of Hiway, an infrastructure platform designed to give independent filmmakers greater ownership and control over their audience, data and revenue.
For the Fund Your Film panel, Zach brings an important commercial viewpoint: not simply how to raise finance, but how filmmakers can think about distribution, audience ownership and revenue strategy from the earliest stages of a project.
Lloyd Gunton — Tax Expert, Creative Sector Incentives Specialist
Lloyd has more than 13 years’ experience in accounting practice and specialises in creative sector incentives.
As part of FLB Accountants and Entertainment Partners, he has helped develop and oversee the firm’s creative sector incentives offering, providing support to a wide range of UK and international clients.
His experience spans the full spectrum of the industry, from micro-budget independent production companies and game developers through to major Hollywood studios.
Widely regarded as an expert in the UK’s creative sector incentives, Lloyd also brings substantial technical accounting experience across the film and television sectors.
For the Fund Your Film panel, Lloyd will bring an important financial and technical perspective, helping filmmakers understand how tax incentives, production structures and financial planning can form part of a realistic funding strategy.
Director’s Cut
Practical talk · Shoot To Cut: Director’s POV
Actor-director Simon Reynolds presents Shoot To Cut: Director’s POV, a practical talk exploring why true economy on set is not simply about working faster, but about knowing exactly what you need before you call “action.”
Drawing on examples from leading filmmakers and masters of staging such as Steven Spielberg, Simon examines how directors can make stronger creative decisions while working within the realities of limited budgets and schedules.
The session will cover:
- Budget-conscious directing
- Casting choices
- Scheduling and preparation
- Efficient staging and coverage
- Common production pitfalls and how to avoid them
- How to make creative decisions with the final edit already in mind
At the heart of the talk is one simple but powerful principle:
See the edit before you shoot the scene.
The session is designed to help directors and filmmakers become more focused, efficient and intentional on set—using preparation and visual thinking to protect both the creative vision and the production budget.
Simon Reynolds — Actor, Director & Filmmaker
Simon Reynolds has built a career spanning more than three decades, with over 100 film and television credits.
His film work includes appearances alongside Julianne Moore in Prizewinner, Michael Douglas in The Sentinel, and Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone in Cold Creek Manor. His other credits include Traitor, Dark Water, Saw IV, P2 and Extreme Measures.
On television, Simon originated the role of Steve Goldstein in Showtime’s Street Time and Daniel Dickinson in FX’s Warehouse 13. More recently, he appeared as litigator Ray Jenkins in Showtime’s Fellow Travelers and as an Alzheimer’s patient in Kazik Radwanski’s acclaimed Matt & Mara.
At MIFF, Simon brings together the perspective of both actor and director, offering practical insight into performance, staging, preparation and how directors can make stronger creative decisions on set.
Acting on Camera Masterclass
Masterclass · For actors and directors
This is an opportunity for actors and directors to attend a practical masterclass exploring the essential techniques of acting for camera and working effectively on a film or television set.
For actors, the masterclass will look at how to create natural, truthful and believable performances on screen, how to adjust performance according to shot size and camera position, and how to maintain continuity across multiple takes. It will also explore listening, reacting, emotional preparation, working with scene partners and responding confidently to direction.
For directors, the session will provide insight into how to communicate effectively with actors, how to create an environment in which strong performances can develop, and how to give clear, useful direction without over-controlling the performance.
The objective is to give both actors and directors a greater understanding of the practical relationship between performance, camera and direction, helping them achieve stronger, more confident and more professional results on screen.
Whether you are an actor looking to improve your on-camera technique or a director wanting to get the best performance from your cast, this masterclass offers practical insight into what makes a performance work when the camera starts rolling.
David Schaal — Actor, Acting Coach & Mentor
David Schaal is an established British actor with a career spanning television, film and theatre. He is best known for his memorable roles in The Inbetweeners and The Office and has worked extensively across both comedy and drama.
Alongside his acting career, David is also an experienced acting coach and mentor, sharing decades of professional knowledge with emerging performers.
He has taught at Italia Conti and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is currently one of the principal acting coaches at The Reel Scene.
His teaching draws on a range of approaches, including Stanislavski and Meisner techniques.
At MIFF, David brings the perspective of both a highly experienced working actor and a professional coach, offering practical guidance to performers looking to develop their craft and better understand the realities of working in film and television.
Alex Fidelski — Producer, Casting Director & Talent Agent
Alex is a producer, casting director and talent agent, as well as the Founder and Director of The Reel Scene, a leading screen acting school in London, and RS Talent.
For more than 12 years, he has worked across actor training, talent representation and film production, helping emerging performers develop their craft, understand the realities of the industry and build sustainable professional careers.
Through his work with The Reel Scene and RS Talent, Alex has developed a strong understanding of what casting directors, producers and agents look for when identifying and supporting new talent.
At MIFF, Alex brings a practical industry perspective on casting, performance, representation and career development, offering valuable insight into how actors can present themselves professionally and improve their chances of progressing within the screen industries.