Independent film has become synonymous with original storytelling and a breed of cinema that comes from courage and personal vision. For over 30 years Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival have supported emerging filmmakers from around the world. At the same time Britain has a long history of being a leader in cinematic innovation and has launched some of the most exciting talent working today. In this panel we will hear from filmmakers from both sides of the pond as US filmmakers face off  with counterparts from the UK. How are we alike and how are we different?

John Cooper (Director, Sundance Film Festival) and Clare Stewart (BFI Head of Exhibition and Festival Director BFI London Film Festival) will be team captains. Representing the US will be visiting filmmakers Josh Radnor (Liberal Arts), So Young Kim (For Ellen) and Ry Russo-Young (Nobody Walks) and from the UK will be local indie heroes James Marsh (Shadow Dancer, Project Nim, Man on Wire), Gurinder Chada (Bend it Like Beckham, Bride & Prejudice) and other panelist to be announced.

This panel is co-presented with BFI.