Masterclass with Simon Cornwell + Networking

How does a major British story travel from the UK to audiences across the world — and particularly to Asia?

As part of Odyssey 2026, we are delighted to welcome Simon Cornwell, Co-CEO of The Ink Factory and Executive Producer of The Night Manager, for a special masterclass exploring how British IP can be developed, produced and taken successfully into international markets.

Drawing on The Night Manager and The Ink Factory’s experience across Asia, including Hong Kong, Simon will share insights into the journey from British storytelling to global screen IP — and what producers and filmmakers can learn about thinking internationally from the very beginning.

A rare opportunity to look behind the scenes of how UK creativity travels, adapts and connects with audiences across borders.

About Simon Cornwell

Simon Cornwell is the co-CEO, and co-founder, of The Ink Factory.  Simon is also the chairman of John le Carré Ltd, the company charged with managing the le Carré estate, and The Ink Factory’s rights-holding partner for its le Carré adaptations.

For The Ink Factory, Simon is currently executive producing the much-anticipated second season ofThe Night Managerfor Amazon and the BBC, starring Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Diego Calva and Camila Morrone.The first season of the show, which Simon also executive produced, was based on John le Carré’s novel of the same name.  The second season, as well as the forthcoming third season, are original stories written by David Farr, screenwriter of the first season, inspired by the characters and the world of the novel.  The first season of the show, starring Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman (all of whom won Golden Globes for their performances), became a global phenomenon, catching the imagination of audiences around the world and winning multiple awards, including Emmys and Baftas along with the actors’ Golden Globes.

Prior to season two ofThe Night Manager, Simon most recently producedThe Pigeon Tunnel, a multi-Emmy-nominated film for AppleTV+ by Errol Morris, and executive produced the Hindi-language adaptation ofThe Night Manager, which became Hotstar Disney+’s top-rated drama of all time.  He has also executive produced The Ink Factory’s adaptation of le Carré’s novel The Little Drummer Girl, directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgård, and Michael Shannon.

Simon has also produced Hotel Artemis, written and directed by Drew Pearce and starring Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Dave Bautista, Jeff Goldblum and Sophia Boutella, which was released in 2018, Anton Corbijn’s 2014 feature film adaption of le Carré’sA Most Wanted Man, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, as well as Our Kind of Traitor, directed by Susanna White and starring Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Stellan Skarsgård and Naomie Harris; and Netflix Original Message from the King, directed by Fabrice du Welz and starring Chadwick Boseman, Luke Evans, Teresa Palmer and Alfred Molina.

Looking forwards, Simon will executive produce a series adaptation of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, based on John le Carré’s much-lauded novel of the same name, being adapted for the small screen by Simon’s brother Stephen.

Simon came to The Ink Factory from top European venture capital firm Amadeus Capital Partners, where he was a senior partner. Prior to that he was founder and CEO of a pioneering company in the field of interactive television. His early career included stints at Granada in the U.K., at the Boston Consulting Group in the U.S., and running refugee relief programs in Thailand.

Simon also currently sits as a non-executive member of the investment committee of Hiro Capital (hiro.capital), a venture capital partnership investing in the games space.

Moderated by Hiu Man Chan, Artistic Director of Odyssey & Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries, De Montfort University

-

🎬 Odyssey 2026 | #Fashion: Cinema as Fashion
📅 28 September – 10 October 2026
🇬🇧 Online & in cinemas across the UK