On Wednesday 20th November, we hosted a chaired panel discussion in partnership with BAFTA Cymru featuring representatives from Dancing Ledge (“The Salisbury Poisonings”, “The Responder”), Severn Screen (“The Pembrokeshire Murders”, “Steeltown Murders”) and Synchronicity Films (“Mayflies”, “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”) looking at the rise of true-story drama and the particular challenges of bringing real stories to the big screen. The session covered what it means for producers working with real-life material—how you balance storytelling with sensitivity, stay true to events, and tackle the unexpected developments that come with portraying real people and places.
The event provided a unique opportunity to hear from industry experts and network with fellow Welsh producers and writers, ranging from indie filmmakers to TV companies looking to move into network or high-end drama.
This event is part of TRC’s new advanced industry programme International Horizons: Scripted aimed at supporting scripted drama companies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Meet the Panel
Laurence Bowen
CEO | Dancing Ledge Productions
Laurence Bowen is a multi–BAFTA Award winning and Emmy nominated Producer who founded Dancing Ledge in 2016.
His recent credits as Executive Producer include “The Salisbury Poisonings” for BBC1, the UK episodes of “The New Pope” starring Jude Law and John Malkovich for HBO/Sky, “The Responder” for BBC1 starring Martin Freeman, “Porters” for UKTV/Dave, “Big Mood” for Channel 4 starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West, “Domino Day” for BBC3 and “The Eichmann Show” for BBC2. He was presented with the Monte Carlo International Producer Of The Year Award, has won RTS, Broadcast and Chicago Film Festival Awards, received Prix Jeunesse, Rose D’or, Emmy and BANFF nominations and won The Japan Prize.
His earlier work includes “Suburban Shootout” (starring Tom Hiddleston, Ruth Wilson, Anna Chancellor, Amelia Bullmore and Felicity Montagu), “Stone Scissors Paper” (starring Juliet Stevenson and Ken Stott), “Dual Balls” (starring Lesley Manville), “Gates” (starring Tom Ellis, Joanna Page and Sue Johnston), “Miranda” (starring Christina Ricci, John Simm, John Hurt, Kyle MacLachlan and Julian Rhind-Tutt), “My Life As A Popat” (starring Kulvinder Ghir and Shaheen Khan) and “The English Harem” (starring Art Malik and Martine McCutcheon).
Ed Talfan
Creative Director and CEO | Severn Screen
Ed is Creative Director and CEO at Wales based Severn Screen. Ed’s producer credits include “Mr Burton” (2025), starring Toby Jones and Lesley Manville; Gareth Evans’ “Havoc” (2025), starring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker; “The Pembrokeshire Murders” (2021) starring Luke Evans; and “Apostle” (2018), starring Michael Sheen, Dan Stevens and Lucy Boynton. Ed also produced Episode 5 of Season One of Gareth Evans’ “Gangs Of London” (2020).
Alongside the team at Severn Screen, Ed is currently developing a slate of drama projects with writers from across Wales and beyond.
Ed’s Executive Producer credits include BBC dramas “Hidden” (2018-22) and “Steeltown Murders” (2023); and Richard Billingham’s BFI-backed debut feature “Ray & Liz“ (2019). Prior to setting up, Severn Screen, Ed co-created and produced three series of award-winning drama “Hinterland” (2013-2016).
Ed is an alumnus of UWC Atlantic and Edinburgh College of Art, and a trustee of Hijinx Theatre.
Deanne Cunningham
Head of Development | Synchronicity Films
Deanne Cunningham is Head of Development at Synchronicity Films, an award-winning Scottish indie.
She is responsible for their slate of high-end scripted projects for Film and TV. With 15 years of experience in the industry, she has produced hit dramas such as “Endeavour” and “Cold Feet”. She has also script edited several award-winning shows, including “Humans” (Ch4/AMC), “Utopia” (Ch4) and “The Tunnel” (Sky Atlantic/Canal+). She has also produced several independent short films with backing from Creative Scotland and the BFI. She is a former BBC Production Trainee and lives in Glasgow, where she likes climbing munros and swimming in lochs whenever possible!
Paul Murray
Producer | Boy 313
Paul Murray is a BAFTA Scotland, RTS and Banff Rocky award-winning producer with over 25 years of UK and International television experience. He has worked in scripted and non-scripted production in many of the biggest production companies in the UK – including Endemol, Objective, IWC and True North.
As creator of C4’s long running and multi award-winning series “Location, Location, Location”, as well as the BBC’s “Antiques Road Trip” and its Celebrity spin-offs, he has created many of the longest lasting and most successful network series produced from Scotland. In addition to his network production credits, he has lectured about format production and development in China, the University of Westminster and various Scottish Institutions. He is co-owner of scripted production entity Boy 313 with director Paul McGuigan, and is currently working on their debut drama based on the award winning novel “Squeaky Clean”.