Sargent Disc at Cannes 2025

The team was excited to be back in France last week for the opening weekend of the 78th Festival de Cannes. Sargent-Disc got involved in several great events that brought international delegates together.

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, several British productions have garnered significant attention, showcasing the UK’s diverse cinematic talent.

Harry Lighton’s Pillion, a BFI backed production, received the festivals longest standing ovation, averaging 7.3 minutes, making it one of the most warmly received films of the festival. Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, the film is nominated for both the Caméra d’Or and Queer Palm. Akinola Davis Jr’s My Fathers Shadow, also showcased Un Certain Regard and nominated for the Caméra d’Or, is being celebrated for its intimate storytelling and cultural significance as the first Nigerian film to be selected for Cannes’ Official Selection. My Fathers Shadow is also backed by the BFI and was developed by BBC Film.

The Caméra d’Or, which recognises the best first feature film, will be awarded on Saturday, May 24.

The Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception, held at the Members Club, Plage du Festival on Saturday 17th May! It’s was a landmark year as it is also the 10th anniversary of DPO (Digital Purchase Order) and the launch of APA. Read more about the exciting new feature here.

 It was amazing to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones too, all over a fun evening of drinks, chats, and great company! Huge thanks to everyone who came along, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did (and that your shoes survived the sand)!

Special thanks to our partners of the reception the British Film Commission, Canadian Media Producers Association, Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films Independent Film and Television Alliance, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, Production Guild of Great Britain, Screen Australia, Screen Producers Ireland and New Zealand Film Commission for their support with the event.

If you missed any contact information or would just like to reach out to us please email marketing@sargent-disc.com

Women in Film and Television Brunch

We were proud to once again sponsor the annual Women in Film and Television (WFTV) brunch, hosted aboard the very stylish Coutts boat on Sunday 18th May. It was a brilliant chance for women, whether seasoned pros or just starting out, to connect, share insights, and chat about the ever-evolving world of film and TV (with a pretty great view, too!)

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Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals

This year, Cast & Crew and Sargent Disc proudly sponsored the 2nd annual Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals, brilliantly organised by the fabulous Vinca Jarrett. Filled with rapid-fire questions and professional sparks, it was a lively, energising event brimming with fun, connection, and creative chemistry.

Sargent-Disc: Digital Production Office

Spotlight On Accounts Payable Automation

Contact us for a demo or more information!

Email us at
sales@sargent-disc.com if you would like to arrange a demo or learn more about APA!

AP Automation is designed to significantly reduce the time and effort which currently goes into traditional AP processes. By automatically suggesting best match purchase orders for invoices sent directly to DPO, users can spend more of their time on value adding activities leaving DPO to manage all of the tedious data entry, document collating and approval routing.

With both PO and AP approvals integrated into DPO, productions can benefit from a one-stop-shop approval workflow. This integration enhances visibility allowing departments to track the status of invoices and POs in real-time, and ensuring that approvals are efficient and transparent.

Cast and Crew Financial Services
Maximizing Your Production Budget: Comprehensive Financial Services

CCFS is your expert in production finance — offering funding against pre-sold distribution rights and a wide variety of US and international tax credits, CCFS is a leading lender in the independent business.  In addition, they can assist with tax credit administration in Canada and advice for North America and beyond.  CCFS and the other Cast & Crew divisions provide for a one-stop shop for indie filmmakers. Read more about CCFS here!

Digital Payroll Workflow
Digital Production Office®

The Digital Production Office® is a suite of software applications and mobile apps specially designed by Sargent-Disc to help film and television production and accounts teams work more efficiently and securely, wherever they are based. As a company, we’ve long been committed to developing sustainable production methods for the UK entertainment industry. Not only do these digital tools help teams work remotely, reduce costs and save time, they will also reduce your production’s carbon footprint.

Find out more

CrewStart™ streamlines the entire onboarding process for production crew and artistes, making management of contractual information quicker and easier.

Find out more

Digital Purchase Order puts you in control of efficient expenses approval, removing the need for multiple emails and manual circulation of documentation.

Find out more

The SD Payroll application gives you instant, secure access to online reporting, payrolls, payslips and payment histories, 24/7, wherever you are.

Find out more

The SD Payslip application provides you with instant secure access to online payslips and lets you view full payment histories at any time, wherever you’re based.

Find out more

The SD Payscales application helps you budget for UK crew costs accurately by providing insight into payscales for a range of different departments and roles.

Find out more

Developed in association with Barclaycard, the SD Production Card is designed to make your production simpler, by removing the need for large amounts of cash on production.

Find out more

Meet the team!

Want to learn more about the team? Click here

Lara Sargent, Director and Co-Head of International Development at Cast and Crew

Laurence Sargent, Director and Co-Head of International Development at Cast and Crew.

Ruby Avards, Head of Sales and Marketing

Immy Mohr, Sales and Marketing Manager

Sarah McKenzie, Business Development Consultant

Cannes 2025

Sargent-Disc is coming to Cannes!

This year we’re returning to Cannes from the 15th-18th of May for the 10th anniversary edition of the International Producers Reception. Taking place on the 17th of May, the reception networks producers and financiers from across the globe! It’s a landmark year as it is also the 10th anniversary of DPO and the launch of APA. We’re are also sponsoring the Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals event on the 16th and The Women in Film and Television Brunch on the 18th. Each event provides an excellent platform for industry figures to network and celebrate the latest successes in Film and TV.

An introduction to Sargent-Disc

We are a UK based company that creates cloud-based software for the film and TV industry—think payroll, digital production workflows, and tools that help crews stay organised and efficient! We’ve been around for nearly 40 years and are proud to be a trusted name when it comes to handling behind-the-scenes admin that keeps productions running smoothly.

Our Payroll application has been designed to enable productions to view their payrolls and manage reporting tasks easily and efficiently from anywhere 24/7, helping productions run like a well-oiled machine, without the spreadsheets and chaos. Digital Purchase Order puts you in control of efficient expenses approval and the new accounts payable automation feature is a game changer for time savings!

Want to learn more about our products and services? Click here!

Cast and Crew at Cannes 2025

Sargent-Disc works closely with all members of the Cast & Crew family. Attending the 2025 Festival de Cannes along with Sargent-Disc are Cast & Crew’s Financial Services division CCFS, DPO and Final Draft.

  • CCFS provides US, Canadian and international tax credit administration, financing and advice, and with Media Services, full completion bond services and advice.
  • DPO enables the seamless online creation and approval of POs anywhere, tracking of deliveries and invoices, invoice approvals and integrates with accounting software with its new AP automation feature.
  • Final Draft is the industry standard software for professional screenwriters, studios and production companies around the world.

 

Meet the team!

Lara Sargent, Director and Co-Head of International Development at Cast and Crew

Lara contributes significantly to Sargent-Disc’s strategic direction, drawing on her deep understanding of production finance and industry best practices to help shape company initiatives and support long-term goals. As a seasoned production accountant at Sargent-Disc, bringing over 25 years of experience in film and television production accounting. Since joining the company in 1999, she has played a key role in supporting productions across a wide range of genres and formats. Lara holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from York University and a Master’s degree in History and Anthropology from University College London. With a deep understanding of production finance and industry best practices, she is passionate about helping productions run smoothly and efficiently

In Cannes from the 16th-18th of May.

Laurence Sargent, Director and Co-Head of International Development at Cast and Crew.

Laurence serves as Co-Head of International at Cast & Crew, where he leads the development of Sargent-Disc’s Digital Production Office® solutions. These tools are designed to simplify crew management, payroll, and production expenditure for the Film and TV industry. Laurence holds a first-class master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering, as well as a doctorate from the University of Bristol. He is passionate about exploring how technology and automation can streamline production workflows and is keen to discuss how Sargent-Disc and Cast & Crew can support your next project.

In Cannes from the 15th-18th of May.

Ruby Avards, Head of Sales and Marketing

Ruby joined Sargent-Disc in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a both a Production Accountant on a range of high-profile film and television projects and a Finance Exec at Lucasfilm. Her credits include The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Indian Paintbrush), Mothering Sunday (Number 9 Films), Catherine Called Birdy (Amazon and Working Title), Eternals (Marvel) and Aladdin (Disney). Known for her dedication and performance, Ruby was recognized in 2018 when she received the Production Guild Spotlight Award and is currently studying for an MBA.

In Cannes from the 16th-18th of May.

Immy Mohr, Sales and Marketing Manager

Immy joined Sargent-Disc in 2021 and leads the team responsible for product setups, demonstrations, and customer engagement. In addition to supporting clients with onboarding and training, she plays a key role in driving Sargent-Disc’s marketing initiatives—overseeing events, content creation, and brand strategy. Immy is passionate about delivering a seamless user experience and is always eager to explore how Sargent-Disc’s innovative solutions can empower your production.

In Cannes from the 16th-18th of May.

Sarah McKenzie, Business Development Consultant

Sarah has been providing strategic, business development and international marketing and promotion services to the film and television industry for 30 years. Her career includes running international festivals and media organisations, providing consultancy services and building inward investment and export promotion policy and activity. Working with Sargent-Disc, a Cast & Crew company, for over 13 years, she is looking forward to developing new connections and supporting the industry through the company’s tailored solutions.

In Cannes from the 14th-18th of May.

Want to arrange a meeting?

If you’d like to meet with us in Cannes please email cannes@sargent-disc.com

Want to keep in touch? Send your details to marketing@sargent-disc.com and let us know how we can help.

Spotlight - Accounts Payable Automation

Contact us for a demo or more information!

Email us at
sales@sargent-disc.com if you would like to arrange a demo or learn more about APA!

AP Automation is designed to significantly reduce the time and effort which currently goes into traditional AP processes. By automatically suggesting best match purchase orders for invoices sent directly to DPO, users can spend more of their time on value adding activities leaving DPO to manage all of the tedious data entry, document collating and approval routing.

With both PO and AP approvals integrated into DPO, productions can benefit from a one-stop-shop approval workflow. This integration enhances visibility allowing departments to track the status of invoices and POs in real-time, and ensuring that approvals are efficient and transparent.

Cannes Top Tips!

From all of us at Sargent Disc, we’re thrilled to see you at Cannes! We’ve put together a few practical tips to help you make the most of your experience.

  • Wi-Fi is Spotty – Bring a portable charger and consider a local SIM or roaming plan.

  • Café Culture Is Real – Many meetings happen over espresso on a terrace. Brush up on your French.

  • Stay Hydrated – You’ll be walking, talking, and drinking a lot—water is your friend.

  • Go With a Plan, Stay Open to Serendipity – You probably have your meetings lined up—but leave space in your day. The best opportunities in Cannes often come from a spontaneous chat in line for coffee or bumping into someone outside the Majestic. Say yes to conversations. Be open.

  • Follow Up Right After That Conversation – Met someone interesting? Take a quick note or send a LinkedIn request while it’s fresh. Cannes moves fast—by tomorrow, that great chat might be forgotten in the rush.