Celebrating 40 Years: Sargent-Disc Marks the Milestone in London

We marked our 40th anniversary where it all began in London.

The evening brought together familiar faces from across the UK production community. Colleagues, clients, and long-standing collaborators, many of whom we’ve worked with for years and in some cases, decades.

More than a milestone, it was a chance to recognise the people behind the work. The partnerships, trust, and shared experience built over time that define how we operate today.

That same mindset continues to shape what comes next. As production evolves, we remain focused on building tools and services that keep pace with the demands of a changing industry.

We captured the moment through a series of photographs featured below. 

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey.

Sargent-Disc marks 40 Years with reception at British Consul General’s Residence in L.A.

Sargent-Disc celebrated its 40th anniversary in Los Angeles with colleagues, partners, and friends from across the global production community. From our early beginnings to today, the event was an opportunity to recognise the relationships, particularly with our US studio partners, and the cross-border collaboration that allows us to support productions around the world.

The milestone event was fittingly hosted at the British Consul General’s residence, a distinguished venue that reflected Sargent-Disc’s heritage whilst also recognising its longstanding transatlantic ties.

Clients, collaborators, and industry friends enjoyed an evening that balanced celebration with reflection on Sargent-Disc’s history and achievements. The venue’s stately architecture and landscaped grounds provided an ideal setting for marking such a significant milestone.

Dr Laurence Sargent and Lara Sargent, Directors of Sargent-Disc, spoke about Sargent-Disc’s journey since its founding four decades ago alongside Cast & Crew CEO Jen Hollingsworth and the British Consul General, Paul Rennie OBE. From its early days to its current global presence, the company has built a reputation for excellence in its field, fostering strong partnerships and consistently adapting to industry changes. The anniversary reception served not only as a celebration of past accomplishments but also as a platform to look ahead to future growth.

Sargent‑Disc at Festival de Cannes 2026

Another wonderful Cannes in the books! This year it was great to see UK independent features take a focus. From the world premier of I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning from Clio Barnard, backed by BBC film and the BFI, to landmark double selection from National Film and Television School students, Left Behind, Still Standing  and Pickled, being selected for the La Cinef – student competition.

To celebrate 40 years of Sargent-Disc, we invited some of our customers to share their birthday messages during Cannes. We’re incredibly grateful for the partnerships, trust, and support that have shaped our journey over the past four decades.

Guests on the beachfront

At Sargent‑Disc, we were delighted to host our 11th International Producers Reception this year. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it another truly memorable occasion. It’s always a highlight for us to come together with our friends and partners across the international production community.

This year is particularly meaningful for us as we celebrate 40 years of supporting the film and television industry. Over the past four decades, we’ve been privileged to work alongside productions of all sizes, delivering trusted payroll and residuals services, expert production accounting, as well as production accounting tools and solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency throughout the filmmaking process.

Through our specialised tools and solutions, including our Digital Production Office® suite and end‑to‑end digital payroll workflows, we help production and accounts teams operate with greater accuracy, efficiency and flexibility at every stage of the filmmaking process.

If you’d like to learn more about how we can support your production, please get in touch at sales@sargent-disc.com or visit our services and products page.

We are deeply thankful for the relationships we’ve built over the decades and the continued trust placed in us. Being part of so many productions’ journeys has been a privilege, and we look forward to supporting the industry for many more years to come.

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 UK, Screen Australia, Screen Producers Ireland and New Zealand Film Commission for their support with the event.

Aine Moriarty, Laurence Sargent, Gregg Schwenk
Max Rumney
Maryllis Gonzales, Sasha Hadden
Jackie Brenneman
Anna Mansi, Moses Nyachae, Lara Sargent, Nigel Walde
Jonathan Blair, Judith Chan
Vinca Jarret, Jenny Walker, Nick Hirschkorn
Victoria Davis, Chantelle De Carvalho, Elli Nakamichi
Sarik Malde
David Donoghue, Sarah Mckenzie, Susan Kirby, James Hickey
Sarah Mckenzie, Immy Mohr
Neil Hatton, Adrian Wotton, Laurence Sargent
Markus Deutsch, Michael Von Wolkenstein
Lewis Coates, Ali Doyle
Laurence Sargent, Daniela Kirchner, Isabel Davis
Laura Sivis, Roger Shakes
Lara, Laurence Speech
Lara and Laurence Sargent
John Dazheng, Jiao Hongfen, Jackie Brenneman
Hannah Wylie, Caroline Stern, Waterloo Ezaki
Bertrand Moullier
Fozia O’dowd, Liza Carmel, Ben Hughes
Sarah McKenzie, Max Rumney, Lara Sargent

We were proud to sponsor the Women in Film and Television brunch hosted by Coutts. A standout event that brought together an exceptional group of industry professionals leading and shaping the industry. More than just networking, it was a space for real conversation, shared ideas and celebration of talent across film and television.

Sargent-Disc team at the WFTV Brunch

Cast & Crew Celebrates the Best of British Television at the 2026 RTS Programme Awards

Cast & Crew proudly returned for the third time as headline sponsor of the 2026 RTS Programme Awards, held on 24 March 2026 at London’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel. The ceremony, hosted once again by comedian and presenter Tom Allen, celebrated excellence in storytelling, performance, and production across the UK television industry.

A Night Celebrating Craft, Courage & Creativity

The 2026 ceremony reflected the industry’s ongoing commitment to championing authentic stories, under‑represented voices, and innovative production.

The awards continue to underline television’s power to influence, inform, and inspire – values that resonate strongly with Cast & Crew’s mission to support world‑class creative production.

Sargent-Disc (a Cast & Crew company) Team: Jamika Sutton, Lara Sargent and Laurence Sargent. Credit: RTS/Tim Whitby

BBC leads the awards

The BBC led the awards collected 16 wins across major categories:

  • Entertainment & Reality for The Celebrity Traitors
  • Leading Actor – Male for Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable)
  • Supporting Actor – Female for Anna Friel (Unforgivable)
  • Drama Series win for the acclaimed Blue Lights
  • Presenter Award for Hamza Yassin (Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles)
  • Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit for Gabby Logan (Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025)

The BBC’s broad recognition reflected both its storytelling strength and its continued investment in nurturing standout on‑screen talent.

Netflix Follows with Five Wins

Netflix secured five wins, fours of which went to its breakout limited series Adolescence:

  • Limited Series & Single Drama
  • Writer – Drama
  • Breakthrough Award for Owen Cooper
  • Supporting Actor – Male for Owen Cooper

Adolescence was celebrated for its fresh perspective, bold narrative, and standout performances, with its cast and creators also being central to this year’s Judges’ Award moment.

Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Credit: RTS/Tim Whitby

Honouring a Legend: Sir Michael Palin

Founding member of Monty Python, Sir Michael Palin received the Outstanding Achievement Award – a tribute to an incredible career spanning seven decades.

Palin’s work continues to resonate with audiences with an unparalleled influence on British culture.

Sir Michael Palin. Credit: RTS/Tim Whitby

Championing Excellence Across the Industry

Cast & Crew is proud to stand alongside the RTS in celebrating the talent that makes British television a world‑leading creative force. As the industry evolves, our commitment to supporting excellence across all areas of production remains stronger than ever.

2026 NFTS Graduation: Celebrating the Next Generation of Industry Talent

Friday 6 March 2026 marked this year’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) Graduation ceremony, following an incredible four-day showcase at BFI Southbank celebrating the achievements of the graduates and the exceptional body of work they have produced over the past year.

Honouring Industry Leaders

During the graduation ceremony, held at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, esteemed Casting Directors Jina Jay and Shaheen Baig were awarded NFTS Honorary Fellowships in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the screen industry and their long-standing support of the school. Both have played a transformative role in developing the NFTS Casting Certificate course, which they co‑founded in 2020.

The honours were presented by NFTS Chair Sophie Turner Laing, with additional remarks from NFTS President Lord David Puttnam and NFTS Director Jon Wardle, who collectively applauded the graduates’ achievements and the school’s ongoing commitment to nurturing new talent.

Casting Directors Shaheen Baig and Jina Jay

Sargent-Disc: Supporting emerging industry talent

Sargent-Disc is proud to play a part in supporting the next generation of production talent through our long-standing relationship with the NFTS Production Management Diploma.

Our scholarship support helps remove financial barriers for aspiring Production Managers, enabling students to focus fully on developing the essential skills required for careers in film and television. This year’s graduates continue to demonstrate why such support is so critical: their work reflects resilience, innovation and an exceptional standard of professionalism.

Recognising Outstanding Student Achievement

At the graduation ceremony, students were honoured for their accomplishments across multiple disciplines. Amongst these, Sargent-Disc was delighted to present two awards, recognising excellence in budgeting, cost control and reporting: core skills for any successful production professional.

The Best All-Round Production Management Award went to Shannon de Kempe – a PM who consistently worked above and beyond her remit, across a wide range of productions and genres, including the Science & Natural History film ‘Ghost in your Eyes‘ shot in the USA across a wide geographical area.

Her Fiction film, ‘Rice‘ was complicated and involved significant location challenges, including taking a large crew to North Wales on a residential shoot where she resolved some complex problems whilst staying calm and focussed to keep the production on track.

Shreya Desai was presented with the Best Budgeting award, having shown an exceptional standard in her budgeting and cost reporting work as Production Manager on the beautiful Documentary film ‘Corps à Coeur‘. She worked closely with her director throughout pre-production and was instrumental in setting up a complicated film shoot in France with sensitive contributor access. Her fiction film ‘Small One’ involved taking a full crew to Denmark shooting over a wide area with multiple locations and unit moves. 

From an early stage Shreya’s budget breakdowns showed an informed and detailed approach; she worked closely with her Producers and Directors to fully embrace the budget’s limitations of filming overseas. She was critical to her team’s established strong communication and maintained an accurate cost report, allowing them plenty of flexibility to maximise filming opportunities and make the best possible films on tight budgets.

Both graduates received £500 and Final Draft software as part of the awards – congratulations Shreya and Shannon!

Sargent-Disc Director, Dr. Laurence Sargent commented:

“This year’s Best Budgeting Skills Award and Best All-Round Production Management Award went to two exceptional Production Management students who went above and beyond, demonstrating outstanding work. Sargent-Disc, a Cast & Crew company, is delighted to support them and our Production Management scholars and to recognise their hard work and success.”

Left to right: Bex Hopkins, Head of the NFTS Production Management diploma; Shreya Desai; Dr Laurence Sargent; Shannon de Kempe; Emma Wilford, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sargent-Disc

Looking Ahead

The NFTS Graduate Showcase 2026 stands as a testament to the creativity, dedication and talent emerging from the school each year. Sargent-Disc is proud to champion these graduates through our scholarship support and ongoing partnership with the NFTS, encouraging the next generation of behind‑the‑camera professionals as they begin their careers across the screen industries.

Photo copyright: National Film and Television School

World Day for Cultural Diversity

Last week was World Day for Cultural Diversity, and our teams are celebrated the rich diversity that makes us who we are here at Sargent-Disc. We kicked off the week by testing our team’s flag smarts with a fun game of Flag Bingo and we definitely have some flag experts here!

To keep the fun going, we had a mid-week Global Food Potluck, and let’s just say, our teams are stuffed with some absolutely amazing dishes from around the world! 🍛🍲

We’re so proud to celebrate the diversity that makes our team, and the world, so unique. How are you celebrating cultural diversity?

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.

Production Guild Of Great Britain Talent Showcase 2025

We were proud to have supported The Production Guild of Great Britain’s annual PGGB Talent Showcase last week. During the event, the winner of the third annual Duke of Edinburgh Film & TV Inclusion Award was announced. Launched in 2022, this initiative highlights the inspiring work of organizations and individuals promoting talent inclusion in the UK screen production workforce. This year’s award goes to the Sara Putt Associates Trainee Scheme & Foundation! The award was presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Laurily Adams, Nicola Lees, and Kelly Spearman at The InterContinental Hotel in London. The winner was selected by a jury from PGGB’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

The evening was made even more special for the Sargent-Disc team and our guests with the chance to meet HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Founded 12 years ago, the Sara Putt Associates Trainee Scheme & Foundation aims to support new and diverse talent in the film and TV industry. This scheme helps trainees develop essential skills through workshops and events, providing them with valuable industry access. Additionally, the formation of the Foundation has expanded the talent pipeline, enabling individuals who might not otherwise have opportunities to enter the industry, enhancing diversity and representation.

The evening also featured an insightful panel discussion on the impact of inclusion in the industry, expertly hosted by the brilliant Ria Hebden. It was an inspiring reminder of the importance of diversity and representation in film and television.

All photographs by Theo Wood.

UK Launch of AP Automation

On November 20th, we were thrilled to host the UK launch of AP Automation—a ground breaking new feature in DPO that transforms how productions manage their accounts payable processes. The event began with an engaging showcase of the feature, followed by a audience Q&A session. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed insightful questions to the discussion.

After the presentation, attendees had the chance to network over some canapés and drinks, while also exploring the new system hands-on. Laptops were set up around the room, allowing participants to experience AP Automation first hand and discover how it simplifies and streamlines AP workflows.

So, what is AP Automation? The innovative new DPO feature is designed to significantly reduce the time and effort that currently goes into traditional AP processes. By automatically suggesting best match purchase orders for invoices sent directly to DPO, users can shift their focus to higher-value activities, while DPO handles the tedious work—such as data entry, document collation, and approval routing.

With PO and AP approvals integrated into DPO, as well as seamless integration into PSL+, productions can benefit from a one-stop-shop approval workflow. This streamlined process not only enhances efficiency but also improves visibility, enabling departments to track the real-time status of invoices and purchase orders with ease. The result? Faster, more transparent approvals that keep your production running smoothly.

If you’d like to see AP Automation in action or learn more about its integration with PSL+, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at sales@sargent-disc.com to schedule a demo or for more information.

Celebrating Talent – Production Guild Awards 2024!

The 2024 PGGB Awards are a celebration of the depth and breadth of talent working within the UK production industry. Launching the evening in style, sponsors Cast & Crew, Sargent-Disc’s parent company, was delighted to welcome guests to the pre-Awards reception.

 

Award nominees across the six categories were a roll call of the best talent working within our industry.  The winners all stressed the importance of the production team to deliver the very best work, and the quality of the talent they work alongside.

 

Producer, David Heyman (Barbie, Wonka and Paddington) was presented with the ‘Contribution to the Industry Award’ for his incredible body of work which includes all eight Harry Potter features, the three Fantastic Beasts movies, Paddington, Barbie and Wonka.  He thanked the Guild and said, “This has been a really challenging period for the film and television industries in the UK – we’ve had COVID, we’ve had the strikes, and the economy in general has been struggling, to put it mildly. But I feel we’re turning a corner.”

 

“Next year, I think more productions will start up and more will come to the UK because it’s the best place in the world to make films and TV shows.”

 

Cast & Crew with Sargent-Disc hosted a table, and with our guests, we toasted the nominees and winners.  We were delighted that Sargent-Disc founder Marija Sargent was able to join us, whom with the late John Sargent, won the 2018 PGGB ‘Contribution to the Industry’ Award.

Courtesy of The Production Guild of Great Britain

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

The 2024 winners were:

Contribution to the Industry – David Heyman

Production Team of the Year, Film – Wonka

Production Team of the Year, HETV – Supacell

Inspiration Award – Georgette Turner

Diversity and Inclusion – Valeria Bullo

Spotlight on New Talent – Marc Ronnie

Courtesy of The Production Guild of Great Britain