The Filmmakers Podcast

Get tickets for SESSIONS Festival Screening at LIFF this Friday 9th Oct at Genesis Cinema in London here: https://genesiscinema.co.uk/event/114469

Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we have an absolute treat for you, especially if you love fiercely authentic, character-driven British cinema.

We are sitting down with BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners and powerhouse producer Sarah Brocklehurst to talk about their brilliant new coming-of-age film, Extra Geography, which is out in UK cinemas right now via Vertigo Releasing.

Now, you will definitely know Molly’s work from directing the massive Netflix global hit One Day, as well as the BAFTA-winning series In My Skin. Extra Geography marks her feature film directorial debut, and what a debut it is. Alongside her, we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod the founder of Brock Media, Sarah Brocklehurst—the producer behind phenomenal indies like Animals, Black Pond and the multi-BIFA-nominated The Outrun.

Extra Geography premiered to sold-out crowds at Sundance earlier this year and has been sitting comfortably at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Written by Miriam Battye and adapted from a short story by Rose Tremain, the film follows two teenage best friends at an English girls' boarding school who launch a summer project to fall in love with the very next person they see.

In today's chat, Molly and Sarah break down the transition from high-end television to indie features, the art of expanding a short story into a ninety-minute script and how they discovered incredible newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear to anchor the film.

Also, remember that you can watch the full video version of this interview over on our TFP YouTube Channel—so make sure you head over there and hit subscribe! Let’s dive straight in. Enjoy the episode!"

Title: Directing Extra Geography: Molly Manners & Sarah Brocklehurst on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts

On this week's episode, we are joined by BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners (One Day, In My Skin) and acclaimed producer Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun, Animals) to break down their critically acclaimed new coming-of-age drama, Extra Geography.

Fresh off a sold-out run at the Sundance Film Festival and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, Molly and Sarah take us behind the scenes of bringing Miriam Battye’s sharp, funny and deeply relatable screenplay to the big screen.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The TV to Feature Leap: Molly discusses stepping onto the set of her debut feature film after directing massive television hits like Netflix's One Day.

Adapting Short Fiction: How Sarah and screenwriter Miriam Battye took Rose Tremain’s original short story and expanded the world into a full feature arc without losing its intimacy.

Finding the Leads: The casting process behind discovering newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear, and how to build raw, unbreakable teenage chemistry alongside Alice Englert.

Producing Authentic British Indies: Sarah shares insights into packaging, financing and championing distinct female-led stories in today’s independent market.

Capturing the Boarding School Bubble: How the production design, cinematography and pacing worked together to capture the claustrophobic, intoxicating intensity of teenage friendships.

Extra Geography is out in UK cinemas now via Vertigo Releasing.

🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES:

Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director.

Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility.

Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan.

The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Box Office Market.

ALL AT thefilmmakerspodcast.com

📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION:

🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Molly and Sarah, and don't forget to subscribe!

🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you got value from today’s episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps us reach more filmmakers and send the elevator back down.

👕 Merch & Courses: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our Post Production Demystified course and explore our full archive at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com.

📝 Episode Description (Show Notes)
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On this special bonus mini-episode, we sit down with the incredible George MacKay (1917, Femme, Captain Fantastic) to talk about his latest role as Edward Ferrars in Georgia Oakley’s stunning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

George gives us a rapid-fire masterclass in acting, collaboration, and how to survive the intense, high-pressure environment of a major period drama set.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The Trouser Incident: George hilariously recounts the moment his period costume ripped during a pivotal romantic scene, and how the resulting laughter actually helped cement his chemistry with Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Building Chemistry: The specific, character-driven techniques he uses to build rapport with his co-stars before the cameras even roll.

The Power of Silence: George discusses how the best directors understand that holding space and not giving notes can be the most effective way to help an actor find the emotional truth of a scene.

Trusting the Vision: Why a director’s clear, unwavering vision—even in the unsaid details—is crucial for making the cast feel safe enough to take big creative risks.

Sense and Sensibility is in cinemas now. Watch the full video interview on the TFP YouTube Channel.

🔔 Subscribe to the TFP YouTube Channel for full video interviews every week!
🎧 Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
👕 Get your official TFP on-set gear: TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

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Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we are tackling a literary masterpiece, but we are looking at it through a completely fresh, vibrant, and fiercely cinematic lens.

We are joined by the phenomenally talented director Georgia Oakley and the absolute acting titan, Fiona Shaw.

Georgia is fresh off the massive success of her BAFTA-nominated debut feature, Blue Jean, which won the Venice People's Choice Award. She cut her teeth making brilliant short films like Little Bird and coming up through the BFI Flare mentorship, and now she has stepped up to direct a stunning new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

And what can you even say about Fiona Shaw? She is a true legend of the craft and a CBE. From winning multiple Olivier Awards on stage to dominating our screens in Killing Eve, Andor, Harry Potter, My Left Foot, and True Detective, she brings an incredible weight and mischievous joy to every single role she takes on.

In this episode, Fiona praises Georgia for putting a gauntlet down to a new generation—keeping the absolute integrity of Austen's original book while completely transforming it into a powerful filmic metaphor. Georgia breaks down the massive artistic and practical challenges of the shoot, including the terrifying moment they lost a day and a half of footage to a digital transfer error. We discuss her specific influences from European cinema, why casting an ensemble is exactly like building a football team, and her unique process of using iPhone test shoots with extras so her main cast has the absolute freedom to move naturally on the day.

A quick housekeeping note: This is part one of our Sense and Sensibility double-bill! This Friday, we are dropping an exclusive episode with George MacKay, who plays Edward Ferrars in the film. You absolutely do not want to miss his hilarious anecdote about a badly-timed trouser rip during a highly emotional scene.

Also, full video versions of both today's interview with Georgia and Fiona, and Friday's episode with George, will be available over on our TFP YouTube channel—so make sure you head over there and subscribe.

Let’s get straight into it. Enjoy the episode!

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The Directorial Vision: Fiona explains how Georgia managed to keep the integrity of Austen's book while completely transforming it into a cinematic metaphor.

A Nightmare on Set: Georgia shares the terrifying reality of losing a day and a half of film footage due to a transfer error.

Rehearsals & Freedom: How Georgia uses an iPhone to block out scenes with extras beforehand, giving her main cast total physical freedom to explore the space on the day

Casting the Ensemble: Why putting together a cast is exactly like building a football team, and how to navigate chemistry reads.

Cinematic Influences: Georgia discusses the European filmmakers and naturalistic framing that influenced the visual language of the film.

🚨 DOUBLE-BILL ALERT:
Make sure you tune in this Friday for Part Two of our Sense and Sensibility coverage, featuring George MacKay! Plus, watch the full video interviews for both episodes over on the https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakerspod

🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES:

Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on Nailing the Pitch, Transitioning to Features, 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & His English-Language Debut starring Saoirse Ronan.

The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Distribution & Box Office Market.

Directing PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: Susanne Bier on Magic, Studio Sequels & A-List Casts + Giles Announces his latest project.

From the Vault: Dexter Fletcher on Indie Debuts to Studio Blockbusters: Rocketman, Ghosted & Directing Action.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION:

🎥 Watch on YouTube: We are rolling out full video episodes! Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch today's interview with Georgia and Fiona, plus Friday's upcoming special with George MacKay. Hit that subscribe button!

🎧 Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed today’s deep dive, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It is the absolute best way to support independent podcasting and send the elevator back down for other filmmakers.

👕 Merch & More: Grab your on-set podcast gear, check out our filmmaking courses, and access hundreds of archived masterclasses at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com.

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Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today Giles Alderson is sitting down with director Jonatan Etzler to talk about his brand new feature, Bad Apples. Now, if you want a masterclass in putting in the reps, Jonatan is your guy. He directed 17 short films that played at various festivals, including Intercourse, which screened at South by Southwest, and Swimmer, which won Best Comedy at Clermont-Ferrand. His graduation film from film school in Sweden even led to a Student Academy Award win and helped him secure a UK agent!

We talk all about the massive transition from directing shorts—which he brilliantly describes as focusing on one specific situation or idea—to building full, complex character development across a feature film.

His new film, Bad Apples, is an awkward, intoxicating ride. Jonatan breaks down his entire process, from writing a five-page English synopsis based on a book by Rasmus Lindgren to teaming up with producer Oskar Pimlott at Pulse Films and hiring screenwriter Jess O'Kane.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

The Power of Short Films: Jonatan discusses the difference between the two mediums, noting that while a short film can survive on one core idea, a feature absolutely requires character development through twists and turns.

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Filmmakers, welcome back to the pod! Today we are stripping away the craft and diving headfirst into the absolute engine room of our industry: The Business of Film.

Giles Alderson is joined by a massive powerhouse panel to dissect the current state of the market, the realities of raising cash, and how to actually get your indie film seen and sold. We have data guru Stephen Follows, brilliant producers Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar and Dom Lenoir and fantastic indie directors Hilary Shakespeare and Conor Boru.

Grab your notepads, because we are laying out the hard truths and actionable tactics you need to survive in this shifting landscape.

The Data Paradox & The UK Indie Market

Total UK spend across film and high-end TV plummeted by £2.7 billion in the first half of 2026.

However, independent film sector spend has actually surged by 20%.

Inward investment makes up about 90% of UK spend, meaning a massive amount of IP and value leaves the UK post-production.

Budget pressures are fierce, with producers squeezed to keep indie budgets under £1-1.5 million to stand a real chance of recoupment.

Sales agents warn that budgets higher than this rarely break even unless the film becomes an unexpected, massive hit.

There is a serious contraction in the labour market, causing mid-to-high level crew to take lower-tier jobs or leave the industry completely.

Distribution & Sales Strategies

Only 10.8% of released fiction feature films on IMDb actually secure a professional sales agent.

Including a reputable sales agent in your pitch deck is vital to make a project appear "safe" to equity investors.

Pre-sales (Minimum Guarantees) are smaller nowadays but remain a crucial tool to secure investor confidence.

Audiences are exhausted by algorithm-driven "soulless content" and are actively rewarding original, authentic cinema.

Theatrical Release Tactics

Cinemas frequently dump indie films into terrible time slots, like Tuesday afternoons, until the film proves it can pull an audience.

If an indie film succeeds in those early slots, it can trigger better programming and longer runs.

Major cinema chains often hit filmmakers with hidden costs, charging extra to place lobby posters or feature the film in their digital newsletters.

Preview screenings are incredibly valuable because their ticket figures feed directly into the official opening weekend box office numbers.

Targeting specific local cinemas relevant to the film's setting can generate much more profitable, sustained runs.

Box Office Reality Check

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is dominating the North American box office with a massive $900 million.

Original indie films are absolutely breaking through, with Obsession taking 7th place at $263 million and Backrooms sitting in 9th place at $197 million.

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🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:📲 Support, Merch & Courses
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