Thanks to TV Mindset for hosting their Freelancer Fest event at the Rich Mix venue in East London today.

The day began with an opening address and introduction from Adeel Amini, Founder of TV Mindset, followed by a series of fireside chats and breakout sessions designed to help freelancers navigate the evolving media landscape.

Main Stage Sessions

🚀 What's Next for TV? – A Fireside Discussion
* Adeel Amini (Executive Producer / TV Mindset)
* Emile Nawagamuwa (UKTV)

🚀 How To Use Your TV Skills in Digital
* Ed Taylor (Honey Bee)
* Danny Lorimer (Sony Pictures)
* Hal Arnold (Little Dot Studios)
* Stephen Parnell (Channel 4.0)
* Chantelle Burndam (Afterparty Studios)

🚀 How to Build a Portfolio Career
* James Taylor-Tovey (Action for Freelancers)
* Dr Andy Sockanathan (Career Coach)
* Clare Fisher (TV Switch Up)
* Perjit Aujla (EP / Portfolio Careers Trainer)

🚀 Recruitment in 2026 (Sponsored by Sky)
* Ade Adepitan MBE (Presenter / Broadcaster)
* Ally Castle MBE (Consultant)
* J Davidson (Talent Consultant)
* Vic Roye (Talent Consultant)
* Sam Tatlow MBE (TAP / ITV)

🚀 Is Live the Future?
* Paul Wright (Plimsoll)
* Matt Scott (Parable)

Breakout Sessions

➡️ You're Not a Tough Cookie, You're a Human
* Octavia Landy

➡️ Dare To Be Seen: Less Stress, More Success
* Kate Stirling

➡️ ScreenSkills Workshop
* Sarah Joyce
* Sarah Winstanley

There were also plenty of opportunities to connect with organisations supporting the freelance community, including Bectu, ScreenSkills, The Film & TV Charity, Action for Freelancers (AFF), Telly Mums, and TV Switch Up, alongside representatives from The Garden, Dragonfly, Studio Lambert, and ITN.

This was a fantastic event packed with insightful discussions, impressive speakers, valuable networking opportunities, and a genuinely optimistic energy about the future of the industry.