Production Futures enjoyed a very productive ISE 2026, during which the organisation once again took over the Live Events stage on Fast Forward Friday. Building on last year’s success with an expanded programme of events and presentations, which began with a high energy meet-and-greet for industry professionals and emerging talent, the day continued with a series of very well-attended panel presentations.
Focused on the themes of access and opportunity, the panels featured meaningful insights from industry experts, as well as valuable contributions from newcomers in the early stages of their professional journeys. Five winners of the Production Futures Breakthrough Talent Awards took part, thanks to bursaries provided by their Award sponsors, whilst a further two students participated courtesy of AVIXA, the professional audio/visual trade association.
“Everyone connected with Fast Forward Friday at ISE deserves great credit. The vast experience and expertise shared by the industry professionals who took part, offered valuable insights to those in the early stages of their careers, as well as painting a clearer picture for others considering pathways into the production industries. Our award winners also presented an inspiring and relatable framework for aspiring newcomers,” Hannah Eakins of Production Futures commented. “We’re so grateful to the sponsors of the Breakthrough Talent awards who enabled five of the winners to visit ISE and take part in our event. The model for the Awards which is based around direct engagement and opportunity, has proved to be incredibly worthwhile. AVIXA’s generosity which allowed two members of the Production Futures online community to attend the show also cannot be overstated. Our mission is to break down barriers and increase access for the widest range of potential newcomers to the production sector, so it’s rewarding to see the industry responding so positively.”
The students who benefitted from the AVIXA bursaries were united in their enthusiasm for the opportunity. Siân Lewis added: “I was really excited about being selected to go to ISE 2026 and it didn’t disappoint. Coming from a production marketing background, I had very little knowledge about the detail behind AV technologies, but my time in Barcelona gave me a much deeper understanding of how things work. There were plenty of opportunities to network with industry professionals and practice my interview skills, too.”
Fellow student Leoni Conway was similarly impressed: “I really enjoyed attending ISE 2026 in Barcelona. The energy and innovations across the show were inspiring. It was great to see the latest technologies up close, connect with industry friends and old colleagues, whilst making new contacts. The experience gave me new insights into emerging trends, broadened my professional perspective, and sparked ideas which I’m excited to explore further. Overall, it was a valuable mix of learning, networking, and creative inspiration.”
