First held in London in 2016,The Media Production & Technology Show  has clearly become the UK's largest annual event for broadcast and film-making companies to showcase their wares and latest innovations to professionals,press,and public alike,with entrance free, gratis,and for nothing.After registration,a personalised badge promptly and efficiently becomes your 'Open Sesame' to the celebrated Grand Hall in Olympia, which since 1886 has hosted  a vast variety of cultural-and  agricultural!-extravaganzas, from Empire exhibitions to World Scout  jamborees,  Miss World competitions, book fairs. fashion shows, and rock concerts.  Currently undergoing extensive and expensive renovations, it still boasts its own Underground/Overground station , mere yards from the main entrance.

During the two-day event, several hundred companies have stands, from Screen International and  other media-related publications, to domestic and international camera,audio, digital, studio, and other trade entities, from Istanbul Filmmakers to Sony Europe and the UK Screen Alliance.Five comfortable themed theatre spaces dotted around the hall offer almost hourly seminars,panels, and talks on a range of topical subjects, from VFX to Screenwriters Masterclasses, composers, and pre- and post-production concerns, while an even safer space, appropriately on the upper Gallery, temporarily houses ALBERT ,  the Sustainability Conference.  Victoria probably would have been amused.

After the pandemic, the strength of this kind of event is the facility for in person networking, and the chance to discuss content  or cameras face to face. Some lively Happy Hours enliven the atmosphere and are sure to encourage future business.The most lavish hospitality so  far seems to have been welcomingly offered  by Iron Mountain Entertainment Services (www.IMES.media), while the diploma for the most elegant de cinq a sept  has to go to Solid State Logic (www.solidstatelogic.com) based in Oxford, which splendidly and aptly opted to serve only  Ashmolean Gin and tonic  on ice with a slice of lime. Very  green and sustainable.

Phillip Bergson                                             www.mediaproductionshow.com