Director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty have worked together on 12 feature-length and two short films, in the process becoming pioneers of British social realist cinema with a humanist message. At 52n KVIFF, they presented their 1995 film Land and Freedom, which was shown on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the European Film Academy. They also received a Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. At the KVIFF Talk, they talked about their careers and many years of working together. Session was hosted by british journalist Neil Young.

The discussion touched the beginnings of the collaboration of the established duo who have won two Golden Palms in Cannes, on Laverty’s only acting experience in Land and Freedom as well as Loach’s method of capturing actors’ authentic reactions. The relationship between the Englishman Loach and the Scot Laverty is by all accounts very harmonious. “We only shout at each other when we the telephone line is bad,” said Loach.