Lights, Camera… Backstage Chaos: Introducing LIFITV
As we begin to shape LIFI26, we’re excited to release something very special from last year’s festival: LIFITV.
Filmed in a purpose-built studio tucked just behind the main stage, LIFITV captures the energy of the festival in real time — the moments after speakers step offstage, the conversations that continue long after the applause fades.
Across eight episodes, you’ll hear from some of our most compelling voices, including Sally Wainwright, Chuck D, William Hanson, David Baddiel, and many more.
The first trailer is now live on socials, and our first episode is live on our YouTube and below. We can’t wait to share the whole series with you as we look ahead to an even bigger year at LIFI26.
“Setting up a studio right behind the main stage was ambitious, and it definitely came with its own ‘positive problems.’ We were constantly working around sound checks, little audio leaks, and the fact that we couldn’t start filming until the final event had wrapped each day. But that was also the magic of it. Being so close to the heart of the festival meant we captured conversations while the energy was still in the air — raw, immediate, and completely authentic. That’s what makes LIFITV special.”Simon Fogal, Producer, LIFITV & Head of Media, LIFI
In this compelling first episode, we are joined by Tom Burgis, Sam McAlister and Matthew Syed just after their dynamic panel discussion “Who Rules the World?”.
We dig into the hidden architecture of influence from tech giants to media moguls, secretive donors to geopolitical power plays and ask: who’s really calling the shots today? Enjoy candid reflections on the ideas, the debate, the questions they wish they’d asked and what we all should be watching out for in an age saturated by misinformation and shifting global power. Subscribe to LIFITV to stay connected to the conversation that doesn’t stop when the lights go down.
More posts
LIFITV Backstage with Andrew Edwards
Ahead of one of LIFI’s most moving headline events, Larry Budd sat down backstage with Andrew Edwards for a quiet, thoughtful conversation.
LIFITV Backstage with Andrew Edwards
LIFITV: Can Mums Have It All? – Backstage Reflections
LIFITV catches up with Claire Warren, Joeli Brearley and Annie Price following Can Mums Have It All? — an honest, unfiltered post-talk conversation about motherhood, work and reality.
LIFITV: Can Mums Have It All? – Backstage Reflections
Etiquette, Leeds & Manners with William Hanson
LIFITV caught up with William Hanson backstage at #LIFI25 to talk Leeds, northern roots and why manners still matter at home and around the world.
Etiquette, Leeds & Manners with William Hanson
Religion & Atheism | LIFITV Backstage with David Baddiel
Ahead of David Baddiel's main stage appearance at #LIFI25, this LIFITV chat happened before the lights went up and the debate began.
Religion & Atheism | LIFITV Backstage with David Baddiel