Guiding Light

Industry: Screen Training Ireland to support Irish female creative talent on Guiding Lights 2016

Screen Training Ireland, part of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), has announced that it will be supporting Irish female talent on the UK’s most prestigious Film mentoring scheme, Guiding Lights. One Irish Female Screenwriter and one Irish Female director will receive support funding to participant in the 2016 programme.

This initiative is part of the Irish Film Board’s on-going commitment to addressing the issue of the under-representation of women in the Film industry here. And part of Screen Training Ireland’s commitment to providing meaningful supports and career progression for female talent.

Guiding Lights has worked with a host of exceptionally talented mentees, many of whom have been nominated for or won BAFTAs, BIFAs, Emmys and Oscars, amongst other leading industry awards. Notably amongst this year’s BAFTA nominees, A Syrian Love Story, the feature documentary produced by former mentee Elhum Shakerifar, is in competition for Outstanding Debut, while Samuel-613, written and directed by current mentee Billy Lumby, has received a British Short Film nomination. Previous Irish female talent who have participated in the scheme include, Carmel Winters, Director-Writer, Ursula Rani Sarma, Writer and Oonagh Kearney, Writer-Director.

On the scheme, each mentee is matched with a leading film industry professional who provides advice and guidance over a 9-month period. The current edition of the scheme saw, amongst others, Ben Wheatley (Sightseers, High Rise), Andrew Macdonald (Trainspotting, The Last King of Scotland) and Matt Charman (Suite Francaise, Bridge of Spies) join an illustrious list of former mentors, including Abi Morgan, Barbara Broccoli, Lone Sherfig, Joanna Hogg, Hossein Amini, Sam Mendes, Alex Garland, Nira Park and Kenneth Branagh. Read more about previous Guiding Lights Mentors and Mentees.

If you are an Irish based female screenwriter or director and interested in participating on the mentoring scheme it is now open to applications directly through the Guiding Lights website. Guiding Lights is a talent development programme, not a training scheme.

Applicants must demonstrate a proven track record in their field, along with a strong commitment to pro-actively trying to advance their film career.

The deadline date for applications is 5pm, Monday 14 March 2016.

To find out more about the Guiding Lights mentoring scheme and to review their FAQ’s please click here.

Please note all applications must be made through the Guiding Lights website.