Warp Films CEO Mark Herbert and BFI Filmmaking fund director Mia Bays are among the high-profile industry names unveiled as mentors for the filmmakers selected for Screen Yorkshire’s Local Landscapes, Global Horizons lab.
Also mentoring will be Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (Joi Productions)), Mike Goodridge (Good Chaos), Damian Jones (DJ Films), Kevin Loader (Free Range Films), Teresa Moneo (Good Chaos), Emily Morgan (Quiddity), Piers Tempest (Tempo Productions), and Faye Ward (Fable Pictures).
The Local Landscapes, Global Horizons lab marks the next stage of the talent development programme supported by the BFI Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
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Building on the previously announced cohort of creatives, the programme pairs producers and their creative teams with a stellar group of industry-leading mentors, offering unparalleled insight and guidance as the projects develop. The calibre of mentors attached “reflects the strength of the projects and Screen Yorkshire’s commitment to nurturing bold, distinctive voices from the North.”
The selected projects span genres including drama, sci-fi, horror and comedy, showcasing original storytelling with both regional authenticity and international potential.
Caroline Cooper Charles, CEO of Screen Yorkshire, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be supporting this cohort of ambitious producer talent and appreciative of the amazing mentors we’ve been able to bring on board – each one offering invaluable experience, insight and support as these films move closer to the screen. It’s a powerful combination that will help these stories reach their full potential.”
The Local Landscapes, Global Horizons programme continues Screen Yorkshire’s commitment to championing regional voices and building a sustainable pipeline of filmmaking talent in the North. Supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery funding, these projects will now continue their development, bringing them closer to production and audiences both in the UK and internationally.
Screen Yorkshire is the engine that drives the film and TV sector in the region. Since 2002 it has been building Yorkshire’s global reputation as a centre for excellence in the screen industries, helping to secure its position as one of the most sought-after destinations for content production in the UK.
Screen Yorkshire attracts high end TV and feature film projects to the region through its Yorkshire Content Fund and to date has generated over £225 million production spend through investing in more than 60 film and TV productions. Credits range from TV Dramas Peaky Blinders, All Creatures Great and Small, Ackley Bridge and Virdee, to feature films, The Duke, Ali & Ava, A Bunch of Amateurs, Sky Peals, The Choral and Dragonfly.