WOMEN in Film and Television UK (WFTV) is looking for seven mentees from Northern Ireland to join its 2024 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme, designed for mid-career women working in film, television and the creative media who are looking to take that next big step in their career.
Applications are open at www.wftv.org.uk/mentoring until Monday September 11 for a total UK cohort of 41 mentees from all disciplines across the film, television and digital media industry.
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The scheme will run for six months from January, during which time each of the participants are paired with senior industry professionals for one-to-one mentoring alongside peer-to-peer training and bespoke career and personal development workshops.
WFTV chief executive Katie Bailiff said: “The scheme is going from strength to strength and we’re delighted to be giving another cohort of mid-career women the network, tools and confidence to make the next step in their film and television careers.”
Former mentee success stories in Northern Ireland include screenwriter Christine Murphy, who was mentored by writer, director, producer and actor Sharon Horgan (Bad Girls, Catastrophe, Motherland); Maeve McLoughlin, producer, who was mentored by BBC Controller Charlotte Moore; costume designer Emma O’Loughlin, who was mentored by Jany Temime (Harry Potter, Skyfall, Judy), camera assistant Erin O’Rawe (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls)m mentored by award winning Seamus McGarvey (Atonement, Anna Karenina); and presenter/ producer Caoimhe Ni Chathail who was mentored by presenter, producer and journalist Ellie Flynn.
Heading up the new scheme is WFTV director of mentoring Sarah Wright, an ICF trained executive coach and former group director of acquisitions at Sky Cinema UK and Ireland alongside Northern Ireland WFTV mentoring producer Sarah McCaffrey.
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Sarah McCaffrey said: “This will be the fifth year we’ve run the WFTV mentoring scheme in Northern Ireland and we’ve had huge success with an amazing group of 28 women who have now completed the programme and gone on to enjoy tremendous success in their chosen careers.
“We are looking forward to selecting another seven talented women working in the creative industries in Northern Ireland to help them break through to even greater heights of excellence in their careers.”
The WFTV mentoring schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are supported by Netflix.
WHAT THE 2023 MENTEES SAID . . .
- Leon McGowan-Fee (drama producer, Hope Street) - I was delighted to be included in the WFTV mentoring scheme in 2023. I found that the entire organisation was there to nurturLeon McGowan-Fee (drama producer, Hope Street)e and support women in a way I had not expected or experienced. I was not prepared for how valuable and how life and career affirming I would find it. Aside from the work I did with my very impressive mentor David Steinberg, I greatly enjoyed the networking opportunities and workshops, which were expertly run. It's a truly wonderful experience and I would highly encourage anyone to take part.
- Maeve McLoughlin (senior digital development executive, Channel 4) - For me the scheme not only opened up opportunities to gain fantastic training and insight, it brought me into a team of women who are all working hard to get ahead and stand out in this business. The support alone was worth doing it all. For me the skills I’ve fulfilled are gaining an insight into my struggles, overcoming fears, pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, help in carving out a longer-term career plan.
- Zjena Glamo?anin (costume designer) - Over the course of the scheme, I found myself maturing as a costume designer, as the mentoring overlapped with a very busy time for me. I was designing two feature films throughout the programme and being able to talk to my mentors in real time about issues was invaluable.
- Ally Thompson (factual producer) - I haven’t stopped learning throughout the whole experience. I don’t want it to end to be honest but I know we’ll keep things going as a group. We’ll be there for each other, supporting when needed but cheering each other's successes loudly too!
- Lisa Keogh (director, writer) - I found meetings with both my mentors especially helpful. I found having them as sounding boards was great for my confidence and helped me to realise I am on the right track and what I need to do is continue being resilient and tenacious.
- Lucy Martin (camera operator) - The WFTV mentoring scheme has been life-changing. It has allowed me to progress in my career and has given me a fantastic network of extremely talented women to learn from. This scheme gave me the mentoring I had been dreaming about for years! I can’t recommend this scheme enough. If you are a woman in the industry who is ready to take a step forward in your career, why not do one better and make a leap with WFTV?
- Rachel Hull (production co-ordinator) - The thing I enjoyed the most about the scheme was the feeling of being part of a community including past alumni, which I believe will continue for many years to come. I also thought it really beneficial to have access to so many seminars/lectures to broaden my knowledge within the industry.
