The selected candidates for a new mentorship programme, to nurture Scottish film talent from under-represented groups, are announced today.
Applications to The Talent Mentorship programme were opened earlier this year to people of colour, LGBTQIA+ people, and people from economically disadvantaged households who live in Scotland and are not in full-time education. Each of the successful mentees will receive practical support and training over a period of six months.
The programme’s mentors are: Naziha Arebi, Director; George Geddes, Cinematographer; Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Producer; Campbell X, Writer/Director; Sueann Rochester, Producer; Michael Lee Richardson, Writer.
The selected mentees who will take part in The Talent Mentorship are: Bircan Birol, Reece Cargan, Claire Clark, Seif El Din Khaled, Yusuf Javed, Holly Summerson.
The Talent Mentorship is run by Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) using funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and Idlewild Trust.
Allison Gardner, Glasgow Film CEO and Co-Director of GFF, said: “We are committed to not only bringing the best local and world cinema to audiences here in Glasgow, but also to nurturing the wealth of talent in the city and making sure opportunities are there for people from all backgrounds.”
Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Producer and Talent Mentorship Mentor, said: “I'm so excited to be part of this mentoring scheme and to be able to help the next generation of storytellers on their journey. I've gained from the generosity of those who've given their time to teach and help me grow. Through this scheme, I'm hoping it helps to create more accessibility for under-represented storytellers in the industry.”