Dea Lawrence Brings ‘Power of Women’ to London—and Says There’s Never Been a Better Moment for British Entertainment

Key Points

• Variety is launching its Power of Women franchise in London for the first time, highlighting leading women in the UK entertainment sector.
• The event took place in London on Monday, as part of the second edition of SXSW London’s packed schedule.
• Dea Lawrence, Variety’s publisher and co-president, said: “It is a great time to be British in the entertainment industry”.
• Lawrence was in conversation with Katy Wickremesinghe, creator of content platform The Wick, at an event hosted by Culture3 in partnership with UK House.
• According to the British Film Institute, film and premium TV production spend in Britain grew 22% last year to £6.8 billion ($9.12 billion).
• Lawrence described the moment as “very pivotal”, noting a convergence between creative, technology and storytelling, with Britain’s talent, facilities and IP resonating culturally far above the country’s size.
• The launch positions London as a key global hub for entertainment innovation, aligning with SXSW’s broader focus on creativity, tech and culture.
• The Power of Women franchise, previously a tentpole in other markets, is being expanded to the UK to celebrate and connect influential women across film, TV, screen and beyond.
• The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, indicating strong industry interest in leadership and representation in British entertainment.
• The timing coincides with sustained growth in UK production investment, reinforcing the country’s role as a major destination for international film and premium television.

London (Britain Today News) – June 1, 2026 – Variety has officially launched its flagship Power of Women franchise in London, declaring that

“it is a great time to be British in the entertainment industry”

as the publication expands one of its most significant women-focused initiatives to the UK amidst a period of rapid growth in British film and television production.

Why Is Variety Launching Power of Women in London Now?

As reported by the Variety coverage of the event, Dea Lawrence, Variety’s publisher and co-president, told an enthusiastic crowd in London on Monday that the decision to bring Power of Women to the UK capital reflects both the strength of British creative talent and the broader momentum in the industry.

Lawrence explained that the timing is strategic: film and premium television production spend in Britain grew 22% last year to £6.8 billion ($9.12 billion), according to the British Film Institute. This surge in investment, combined with the UK’s established production infrastructure and powerful intellectual property, has created what she described as “a very pivotal moment” for the sector.

In her conversation with Katy Wickremeshe, creator of content platform The Wick, Lawrence emphasised that Britain is now able to

“resonate culturally far above the size of the country”

thanks to its

“fabulous talent, its production facilities and its IP”.

She framed the launch of Power of Women in London as both a celebration of that momentum and a platform to further amplify women driving change across film, television and related creative industries.

The event formed part of the broader SXSW London schedule, whose second edition kicked off on the same Monday, signalling a deliberate alignment between Variety’s initiative and the wider convergence of creativity, technology and storytelling that SXSW promotes.

What Does Power of Women Represent for the UK Industry?

Power of Women, one of Variety’s tentpole franchises, has long been used in other markets to recognise and connect influential women across entertainment, media and culture. By bringing the franchise to London, Variety is signalling that the UK market now warrants a dedicated, high-profile platform focused on female leadership and representation.

The event, hosted by Culture3 in partnership with UK House, was designed to gather leaders from film, television, streaming, and adjacent creative sectors under one roof. While the full list of honourees and attendees was not detailed in the initial coverage, Lawrence’s remarks made clear that the franchise’s purpose is to highlight women who are shaping the future of British entertainment, from production and financing to creative leadership and technology innovation.

Lawrence told the crowd that

“it is a great time to be British in the entertainment industry”.

That statement, delivered in the context of SXSW London and backed by BFI production spend figures, underscores the belief that the UK is not only a major production hub but also a cultural exporter with growing global influence.

How Does SXSW London Fit Into This Move?

The launch of Power of Women in London was embedded within the second edition of SXSW London, which kicked off on Monday with a packed schedule of events. SXSW, originally established in Austin, Texas, has become a global gathering点 for the intersection of film, music, interactive technology and culture, and its expansion into London reflects the city’s status as a European nexus for creative industries.

By scheduling the Power of Women event as part of SXSW London, Variety is leveraging the festival’s existing audience of creators, technologists and industry decision-makers. Lawrence’s conversation with Wickremesinghe focused on the

“convergence between the creative, the technology and the storytelling”,

a theme that lies at the heart of SXSW’s programming.

This alignment suggests that Power of Women in London will not only celebrate traditional roles in film and television but also recognise women driving innovation in areas such as streaming technology, digital storytelling, AI in production, and new distribution models.

What Did Dea Lawrence Say About Britain’s Creative Moment?

Dea Lawrence’s central message was that the UK is at a “very pivotal moment” in its creative economy. She highlighted three key factors:

• Talent: Britain’s “fabulous talent” across writing, directing, producing, acting and technical disciplines.
• Infrastructure: World-class production facilities and studios that have attracted major international productions for years.
• Intellectual Property: A deep well of British IP that continues to resonate globally, from classic literature to contemporary screen stories.

Lawrence stated that these elements allow Britain to

“resonate culturally far above the size of the country”.

In practical terms, this means that UK-based stories, creators and companies are increasingly setting global trends rather than simply following them.

Her assertion that

“it is a great time to be British in the entertainment industry”

was not presented as mere optimism but as a conclusion drawn from measurable growth: the 22% rise in film and premium TV production spend to £6.8 billion signals sustained confidence from investors and studios in the UK market.

Who Was Involved in Organising the Event?

The London Power of Women event was hosted by Culture3 in partnership with UK House, and formed part of the SXSW London schedule. Culture3, a platform and community focused on creative industries and the “third space” where culture, business and society intersect, is known for convening leaders across sectors and facilitating high-level conversations about the future of creativity.

Katy Wickremesinghe, creator of content platform The Wick, took part in an on-stage conversation with Lawrence, providing a peer perspective from within the digital and content creation ecosystem. Wickremesinghe’s involvement signals that the event’s scope extends beyond traditional film and television to include digital-native creators, platform builders and new media entrepreneurs.

The partnership between Variety, Culture3 and UK House suggests a multi-layered approach: Variety brings its global brand and editorial authority; Culture3 provides curatorial expertise and community-building experience; and UK House contributes its network and logistical support within the UK market.
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What Does This Mean for Women in British Entertainment?

The launch of Power of Women in London sends a clear message that women’s leadership in British entertainment is both substantial and worthy of dedicated celebration. While the global entertainment industry has long grappled with issues of representation, pay gaps and access to decision-making roles, events like this aim to shift the narrative by spotlighting women who are already shaping the sector.

Lawrence’s comments, combined with the BFI’s production spend data, suggest that the UK is not only investing heavily in content but also increasingly in the people who drive that content. Power of Women provides a visible platform for those individuals, offering networking opportunities, media attention and a sense of community among women across different roles and seniority levels.

The event also reinforces the idea that diversity and inclusion are not just ethical imperatives but economic ones. As production spend grows and the UK competes globally for talent and investment, the ability to showcase a diverse, dynamic leadership cohort becomes a strategic advantage.

How Is the Industry Responding to the Announcement?

Coverage of the event described the crowd as “enthusiastic”, indicating strong industry interest in the launch and in the broader conversation about women’s roles in entertainment. The fact that the event was scheduled as part of SXSW London, a festival known for drawing large, engaged audiences, further suggests that the topic resonates with both traditional media professionals and digital-native creators.

While individual reactions from attendees were not quoted in the initial report, the tone of the coverage implies that the announcement was received as a natural and timely move, given the UK’s production growth and the broader cultural focus on representation and leadership.

Industry observers are likely to view the launch as a signal that London will increasingly host global franchise events focused on creativity, leadership and innovation, further cementing its status as a European counterpart to Austin, Los Angeles and other major SXSW hubs.

What Challenges Remain for the UK Entertainment Sector?

Despite the positive framing of Lawrence’s remarks, the broader context for the UK entertainment industry includes ongoing challenges. Production spend growth does not automatically solve issues such as funding gaps for independent voices, regional disparities in access to opportunities, or the need for more sustainable working practices across the sector.

Power of Women can contribute to addressing some of these challenges by raising the visibility of women who are pioneering new models of production, financing and distribution, but the long-term impact will depend on how the event translates into concrete opportunities, mentorship, investment and policy changes.

Nonetheless, the launch of Power of Women in London, framed by strong production growth and supported by a major global brand like Variety, marks an important step in centring women’s leadership within the UK’s increasingly influential entertainment ecosystem.