WFTV launches Four Nations Mentoring Scheme as NI Scheme Returns for 2021
Date Posted: March 15, 2021
Women in Film and Television (WFTV), UK has launched an additional two mentoring schemes for mid career women working in film, television and the creative media.
In addition to their well-established Northern Ireland and England schemes, WFTV has now added schemes in both Scotland and Wales.
The scheme is designed for women looking to take a significant step in their career – 41 mentees have been selected from across the four nations to take part in the 2021 programme. It runs for six months, during which time each of the participants are paired up with senior industry professionals for six hours of mentoring contact alongside peer-to-peer training and seminars, WFTV events and wider industry networking opportunities.
Mentors taking part in this year’s scheme include writer Sally Wainwright, Peter Fincham, Co-CEO Expectation Entertainment, Director Phillippa Lowthorpe, CEO Wonderhood Studios David Abraham, Channel 4 commissioning editor Fozia Khan, Director Sarah Gavron, and presenter and journalist Ellie Flynn.
The England scheme has been launched in association with ScreenSkills and is supported by BBC, UKTV and Channel 4. The new schemes launched in Scotland and Wales are supported by Netflix who also sponsor the existing scheme in Northern Ireland.
Heading up the scheme this year is WFTV’s Director of Mentoring Tracy Forsyth, who is also a creative mentor at Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund and an executive coach. WFTV have also recruited mentor producers Karen Kelly in Scotland and running the Welsh scheme will be Hannah Corneck, Sarah McCaffrey will continue to run the scheme in Northern Ireland.
Tracy Forsyth said: “It’s so thrilling to be taking our mentoring scheme to all four nations this year. We have 41 mentees from across all walks of the film and TV industry. We have writers to dialogue editors to costume designers to VFX supervisors to directors and comedy producers. They are already an inspirational group and with the scheme’s help we will empower their careers and lives to even greater heights and impact.
Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV said: “We are thrilled that WFTV is now well and truly serving all the women in the UK, places on the scheme are hard won and I’m excited to witness the mentees unlock their potential and progress to the next step in their many and varied careers across the industry.”
Sarah McCaffrey, Producer, WFTV NI Scheme said: “Our inaugural scheme in Northern Ireland proved so popular last year, we are delighted to welcome seven new mentees from the creative industries here onto the 2021 scheme.”
ScreenSkills is supporting the Four Nations Mentoring Scheme with National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI.
