October 10 - 11, 2026 12:00 pm (GMT+0:00)

What actually goes into making intimate scenes feel natural, safe and believable? Cailin Peluso and intimacy coordinator Olivia Ku lift the curtain on how they work together, how the process has changed, and what goes into some of those unforgettable fan-favourite scenes.

Why do YA verticals connect so strongly with audiences? The stars of some of the genre’s biggest titles talk about what makes a great YA story, the tropes and characters fans can’t get enough of, what doesn’t always work, and how they’d love to see the genre grow and evolve.

Verticals are growing fast — and so are the stories they can tell. Stars from BL, GL and other underrepresented stories come together to talk about what the format is already getting right, where there’s still room to grow, and how we can see more diverse characters, bodies, relationships and experiences on screen. Are verticals sometimes judged more harshly than they deserve? And what could the next generation of stories look like?

They’ve been popping up in some of the most talked-about recent verticals — and they’ve become firm fan favourites along the way. This panel brings together a group of rising stars to talk friendships on and off set, breakout roles, fan reactions, funny behind-the-scenes moments, and what it’s like finding your place in a fast-growing industry.

Halogen Cinema has become one of the most recognisable names in vertical drama — but what keeps its regular stars coming back? The cast talk chemistry, favourite shoots, what makes a Halogen set different, the ingredients behind its biggest hits, and why the same faces keep returning for more.

From comedy and romance to heartbreak, villains and everything in between, some of vertical drama’s leading actresses look back at the roles that have stayed with them. They’ll share favourite moments, memorable characters, hits old and new, and how the opportunities for women in verticals have changed as the format has grown.

Some of vertical drama’s most familiar leading men look back on the roles, moments and shoots they remember most. From favourite characters and unexpected fan reactions to funny behind-the-scenes stories, they’ll talk about how the format has changed, what they’ve learned along the way, and the questions fans always want to ask.

Two much-loved vertical pairings come together for a fun look back at the scenes, stories and chemistry fans can’t get enough of. Expect favourite moments, first impressions, funny behind-the-scenes stories, who is most likely to forget a line, who makes the other laugh, and what it’s really like working together again and again.

The UK vertical scene is growing fast. Actors, creators and producers come together to talk about what’s happening here, how British verticals feel different, what opportunities are opening up, the challenges of building the format in a newer market, and where they hope the UK scene goes next.

What does it mean to be a female lead in vertical drama today? Actresses and creators talk about playing strong, complicated women, creating roles for themselves, the opportunities opening up in the space, and how female characters are changing as vertical storytelling grows. 

From BL to broader LGBTQ+ stories, the people helping drive queer storytelling in verticals come together to talk about the characters, romances and moments that have connected with audiences. They’ll look at how the space has grown, what makes these stories work, the opportunities opening up for queer talent and storytelling, and what they’d love to see more of next.

What makes a villain unforgettable? Some of vertical drama’s most memorable troublemakers come together to talk about playing bad, stealing scenes, finding the fun in darker characters, and creating villains audiences love to hate. They’ll also explore whether male and female villains are treated differently — and what makes a truly great antagonist.

Some performers just know how to make a moment work. From perfect comic timing to unforgettable character choices and fearless improvisation, this panel brings together some of vertical drama’s finest performers to talk craft, instinct, collaboration, and how they create the moments audiences remember.

What happens when performers step behind the camera and start creating their own opportunities? Actors, producers and emerging production companies share what they’re building, why they decided to take more control of the stories they tell, what they’ve learned along the way, and a few hints about the projects they have coming next.

Where is vertical drama heading next? Platform executives come together to talk about how the format is evolving, what audiences are responding to, the kinds of stories they want to see more of, and where they think the industry could go from here.

When the plots are already wild, how do you make them even funnier? The creators parodying vertical drama talk about finding the joke, choosing which tropes to send up, the moments that are almost impossible to exaggerate, and why sometimes the real thing is even more outrageous than the spoof.