Bradford Council and ScreenSkills are reviving the FilmMakers25 mentor network for a third season this autumn.
FilmMakers25 will, as previously, be partly funded by the council and ScreenSkills, using National Lottery funds awarded by the British Film Institute as part of the Future Film Skills programme. This year Channel 4 will also be a co-funder.
Once again the programme is designed to connect 25 Bradford-based content creators of all kinds with film and TV industry experts who can help them develop their career journeys, build contacts and secure paid work.
This year, as well as recruiting mentees who are already working in the world of film, TV and digital media or who are leaving college or university, FilmMakers25 is also looking for returners to the industry and those who may be coming to media careers at a later stage in their lives.
After two years of pandemic disruption this year’s mentees will be joining the network at a particularly exciting time, as Bradford has been chosen as UK City of Culture 2025, bringing a new focus to the creative industries. Bradford Filmmakers25 will help support and grow the local talent base to create a highly skilled, creative workforce as part of City of Culture in 2025.
A free-to-use screen hub called The Unit is now open and will shortly transfer to Keighley Creative from the city centre, to ensure good access for everyone. The Unit is a place where content creators can work, share and learn from one another, and also get their hands on equipment to help them produce films and videos as part of a package of measures to support screen sector growth.
The programme is headed up by Ruth Pitt, MD of Yorkshire-based media consultancy Under The Moon, which developed Bradford’s As Seen On Screen strategy and is advising the council on screen sector policy. Under The Moon provides strategic support for the screen sector outside London and the company runs a number of creative mentor networks, festivals and events to help grow the industry across the UK.
Pitt said: “We know from experience that matching mentees with industry leaders is productive for both parties. Mentees gain a better understanding of commercial content production and distribution and mentors get to meet talented people from diverse backgrounds who’ve got something fresh to say. Mentoring is a brilliant way to level the playing field of access to the screen industries.”
This year FilmMakers25 will also be offering workshops at The Unit, ensuring that mentees get the chance to connect with one another and maximise their chances of building successful careers in the Bradford district. The Unit, like FilmMakers25, is supported by Channel 4, underlining how the benefits of the channel’s recent move to Leeds continue to roll out across the region.
Channel 4 partnerships lead Kevin Blacoe added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Bradford Council and ScreenSkills on this initiative. This is exactly the sort of difference we want to make outside London.”
Many previous FilmMakers25 participants have been building their screen careers since joining the programme. Jordon Scott Kennedy, who is now helping run The Unit, is one of a number of mentees who have secured funding from the Channel 4 Short Form Content Fund.
He said: “Filmmakers 25 was a game-changer for me and was instrumental in developing my confidence to pursue career and funding opportunities. Their guidance and mentoring helped me gain employment at The Unit as well as receiving Channel 4 funding for my short film ‘Youthless’. I would highly recommend this scheme to any emerging or returning filmmaker.”
Applications for FilmMakers25 close on August 31.
