Jane Tranter, CEO of Bad Wolf, has been named as Advisory Chair for the 2025 Edinburgh TV Festival.
Tranter will work closely with Creative Director Rowan Woods to set the editorial agenda and lead the curation of this year’s Festival.
Tranter said: “The continued success of the Edinburgh TV Festival is a clear illustration of the impact that the nations have had – and continue to have – on the cultural landscape of the UK, and around the world. The UK TV industry has flourished in the last half century and in no small way that is due to distinct, diverse and talented people, both on and off camera, making their voices heard. The Edinburgh TV Festival has always embraced a passionate debate and for its 50th anniversary I’d like to hear those voices rise to a loud, discursive, celebratory roar.”
Festival Chair Fatima Salaria said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have a powerhouse like Jane leading the Festival in such a landmark year. Her strong leadership, passionate advocacy for the nations and regions, and global vision make her the perfect force to drive us forward. She has a playful sense of mischief and a fearless instinct for danger—she doesn’t just embrace change; she runs at it. At a time of transformation in our industry, her ambition and bold vision will be invaluable—not just for the Festival, but for the future of television itself.”
The Festival has also announced a “significant overhaul” of its approach to programming. The Festival will introduce an open call for session ideas – inviting anyone from across the industry to submit ideas for sessions via the Festival’s website. Submissions are open from today (Tuesday 4 February) and will close on 4 April. The new initiative “ensures that anyone, regardless of their position or location, can play a role in shaping the conversation at the Festival.”
The Festival is also launching an open call for session producers for individuals who may not have submitted a specific session idea to contribute towards shaping the Festival programme. Anyone who produces a session will receive a free pass to attend the Festival. These initiatives will build on and replace the previous advisory committee model.
Woods and Tranter will continue to consult closely with the industry on key themes and topics. To help facilitate this, the Festival will introduce a series of open town hall meetings across the UK— in London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast— where industry professionals can meet with Woods, Tranter, and the Festival team to discuss key issues, themes, and ideas for the event. These town hall meetings will take place in March and are open to everyone in the industry, with options for both in-person and online participation. Details on how to attend and participate are available on the Festival’s website.
Creative Director Rowan Woods said: “A major theme of last year’s Festival was the vital importance of inclusion and plurality of perspective, and it is in this spirit that we’re making significant steps to open up the Festival’s programming process. The ethos of the Edinburgh has always been ‘by the industry, for the industry’ and we want to ensure that everyone feels able to contribute regardless of background, seniority or location.”
The Festival will also be offering an “unprecedented” number of bursaries for the 2025 edition and a new programme aimed at removing obstacles to first-time attendees. Full details of eligibility and how to apply will be announced later this month.
Campbell Glennie, CEO of the TV Foundation and the Edinburgh TV Festival, said: “This August will be the biggest stage yet for our ongoing Festival For All initiative. If you’ve never been to the Festival before, this is the year to experience it and celebrate the industry with us. If you work in television in any capacity, the Edinburgh TV Festival is for you.”
Jon Creamer
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