January 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  21.1.25

MOBEEN AZHAR REVEALED AS HOST OF CREATIVE CITIES CONVENTION 2025

Mobeen Azhar has been named as the lead host for this year’s Creative Cities Convention, being held from May 7 – 8 in Bradford as part of its UK City of Culture 2025 celebrations.

The BAFTA-award winning TV journalist and film-maker will be hosting sessions, leading interviews with key media figures and chairing wide-ranging industry debates.

Creative Cities Convention is the only conference dedicated to people making film, TV or digital content outside London. Each year it takes place in a different major UK city with delegates gathering to hear leading industry players debate the major issues of the day.

Mobeen Azhar said: “I was born and raised in Huddersfield, just a few miles away from Bradford, and I went to university in Leeds.  I have a lot of family and friends in Bradford so I'm really excited about hosting this year’s Creative Cities Convention in my native West Yorkshire. This feels like coming home.
 
“I’ve always been passionate about nurturing the tremendous talent to be found outside London. The Convention plays such an important role in shining a light on the regions and championing creative forces that are sometimes overlooked.”

Lisa Campbell, Director of the Creative Cities Convention, said: “Mobeen is the ideal host for this year’s conference in Yorkshire - a trailblazing journalist and filmmaker who has deep personal ties to the region.

“His passion and understanding of the need for thriving local production communities make him the perfect champion for both new and established creative talent."

Mobeen has produced and presented across BBC flagship platforms for more than 20 years and is a BAFTA, Grierson, Amnesty International, Broadcast and Royal Television Society award winner.

He has created longform podcast series for BBC Sounds, Spotify and Audible including: Fatwa; Hometown: A Killing; Lives Less Ordinary; The Kanye Story and Catching the Kingpins, which featured on BBC Sounds’ ‘Best of 2024’ list. Mobeen also hosts the BBC World Service strand, Outlook.

Mobeen has produced and presented numerous narrative television documentaries and multi-part series across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Three including: Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop; Secrets of an ISIS Smartphone; The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash and a Conservatorship; Hometown: A Killing; A Black and White Killing: The Case That Shook America and The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On, as well as multiple editions of flagship current affairs series Panorama.

In recent years he has also made programmes with BBC Studios, Vice Studios, Expectation, Mentorn and ITN Productions. Mobeen is a regular host on BBC 5Live and the BBC World Service.

The Guardian gave Mobeen’s BBC documentary about last summer’s racial disturbances, Small Town, Big Riot, five stars and said: “His inquisitive open-mindedness shouldn’t be unusual, he provides a fuller picture than that offered by the nation’s self-interested press and compromised politicians last summer.”

This year’s Creative Cities Convention, themed "Local to Global: More in Common", celebrates the power of British creativity to captivate global audiences while highlighting its unifying force at home.

From television to gaming and film, the conference explores how fostering collaboration across creative industries can spark new opportunities, champion cultural convergence, and bridge divides in an increasingly fragmented society.  

The convention will also focus on giving delegate's practical tips – such as finding new ways to fund shows, building your brand on YouTube, making drama on a budget and realising opportunities in growth areas such as VR, AI and gaming.

Other Convention highlights will include the recently announced session with Director-General, Tim Davie, in conversation with Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. They will be discussing how to empower the creative industries outside of London to drive growth, opportunity and inclusivity.

The Creative Cities Convention was founded in 2018 by director Ruth Pitt and John McVay, the Chief Executive of the UK’s Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT).

CCC has opportunities for new supporters to join core stakeholders: BBC; ITV/ITV Studios; Channel 4; Paramount and PACT, and other partners including UKTV.

Previous conferences have been held in: Leeds; Cardiff; Glasgow (online); Birmingham; Newcastle and Bristol. Past speakers and participants have included Lenny Henry; Kirsty Wark; David Olusoga, Anita Rani and Robson Green, alongside numerous leaders from the broadcasting, streaming and production communities.

ABOUT CREATIVE CITIES CONVENTION

Creative Cities Convention is a leading event bringing together producers and distributors in the fields of film, television, and digital media outside London.

Established in 2018, the convention is supported by key stakeholders, including the BBC, ITV/ITV Studios, Channel 4, Channel 5/Paramount, and Pact, and is committed to promoting practical support and networking opportunities for professionals in the screen sector. The 2024 conference was held in Bristol.

Anyone interested in becoming a partner should contact Partnerships Lead, Beena Khetani, at beena@creativecitiesconvention.com.

One of Bradford’s key creative hubs is The Unit!, a free, open-access space for filmmakers in the city and surrounding areas. Visit www.theunit.org.uk/ for more information.

For further information contact press@creativecitiesconvention.com.

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