Film Forward
Film Forward is designed to create change in the UK film industry by supporting experienced Black and Asian professionals to advance to more senior roles.
The programme matches participants with 5+ years experience in below-the-line roles in paid production placements. The initiative provides key on-the-job training alongside bursary access to help effect real change in the industry and improve the diversity of productions across the UK.
Film Forward is part of ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund’s wider commitment to increasing and improving diversity and inclusion at every level of the film industry regardless of background or educational attainment.
The programme outline
First launched in 2021, Film Forward is part of ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund’s wider commitment to increasing and improving diversity and inclusion at every level of the film industry regardless of background or educational attainment.
Film Forward has been specifically designed to tackle the under-representation of Black and Asian professionals at mid to senior levels in the UK film industry, by matching participants with 5+ years experience in below-the-line roles in paid production placements. The initiative provides key on-the-job training alongside bursary access to help effect real change in the industry and improve the diversity of productions across the UK.
Successful candidates will gain experience, training alongside crew, in a step-up role, that will enable them to apply for future positions at that level.
Candidates will become a part of the production they are placed on, additional to crew, and will have an associated development contract from the production for their placement.
As a successful candidate, ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund offers the opportunity to:
- be matched with a paid placement in film, to support career development
- collaborate with teams currently outside of your network and broaden access for future opportunities
- access an individual bursary of up to £1,500 to support the step up for expenses such as equipment or software
- benefit from a framework of support from ScreenSkills including opportunities for personal training and development
Key Dates
- Applications open – 00:00 on Monday 24 July 2023.
- Applications close – 23.59 on Monday 21 August 2023.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a virtual meeting with a ScreenSkills panel to go over application forms.
- Successful candidates notified – no later than Friday 20 October 2023.
How to apply
Eligible applicants should be Black or Asian professionals with 5+ years of experience in their chosen department. More information on Screenskills commitment to diversity and inclusion in the screen industries can be found here. Ethnicity information from the ScreenSkills profiles of applicants will be reviewed to check eligibility, so applicants must ensure that their ScreenSkills profile is accurate and up to date. Once eligibility is confirmed, this information will not be accessed again.
Any questions regarding eligibility for the Film Forward programme, or objections to the use of individual ethnic diversity information as part of the programme, can be forwarded to film.team@screenskills.com.
This year Film Forward will support professionals working in the following below-the-line skills grades:
- accounts
- art department
- assistant director
- costume
- hair and make-up
- locations
- production
In-house, writing and development roles are not eligible for this programme.
Applicants must have 5+ years of experience in a below-the-line role in film (or a very closely related industry such as HETV). Applicants must show a clear desire to continue their career in the film industry. Applicants should be ready to make their next move within their area of expertise. Applicants must be prepared to be flexible with dates and locations of potential placements.
You will need a ScreenSkills profile to apply to Film Forward. If you do not already have a profile, you can register here.
To apply for Film Forward, click on the ‘apply now‘ button above.
If you require an alternative format for the application, or have any questions about the programme, please contact Screenskills as soon as possible at film.team@screenskills.com
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