BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival launches mentorship programme

Andrew Haigh (left), director of Weekend (right)

Are you an LGBT-identified filmmaker who wants to develop a career in film?

Much has been written about the industry’s failure to recruit and develop female and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) filmmakers, and rightly so. But the plight of LGBT film and filmmakers is less visible, and no less pressing.

We’ve had a few recent UK success stories: the critical and commercial success of Pride, of course, but also Hong Khaou’s recent BAFTA nomination for Lilting, and Andrew Haigh breaking through to wider global success with HBO’s Looking, after making his mark with UK indie feature Weekend.

Now, in partnership with Creative Skillset, BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival is launching a mentorship pilot that will offer five emerging LGBT filmmakers from the UK the opportunity to develop industry knowledge, professional connections, their passion for cinema and an overview of LGBT features entering the marketplace.

Hong Khaou (left), director of Lilting (right)

We want to find British LGBT-identified filmmakers who show promise and commitment, who have produced, written or directed a short film and who are working on a feature. From March to December 2015, selected filmmakers will have access to a one-of-a-kind package: access to BFI festival screenings and BFI Flare events throughout 2015, as well as a range of filmmaker-focused events and talks.

And best of all, you will have one-to-one support from a senior industry figure who will act as a mentor over the nine-month programme.

Read more about the mentorship and how to apply