BIFA announces cohort for the 2022 Springboard programme
The programme supports emerging writers, directors and producers
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Springboard was designed in response to a direct need to support filmmakers beyond early success after it was found over 70% of filmmakers entering BIFA in 2018/19/20 had not completed a second feature two years later, including longlisted and nominated filmmakers. Those who won our debut awards were more likely to have made a second feature.
The 22/23 programme is supported by Film4 and offers a combination of sessions from experienced industry executives and filmmakers, a support network of similarly experienced writers, directors and producers and networking initiatives aiming to make connections to develop participants’ careers.
This year, we’ve selected 30 truly exciting writers, directors and producers who are looking ahead to their second feature film. The cohort includes some of the filmmakers behind a number of films nominated for the 2022 BIFAs including Flux Gourmet, Fadia’s Tree and Winners as well as previous BIFA winners and nominees behind films such as Sweetheart, Keyboard Fantasies and Rebel Dykes. We’re so excited to have them join BIFA Springboard and look forward to welcoming them to this year’s programme.
The 2022 cohort includes:
Kate Glover, Producer
Huse Monfaradi, Director
Lesley-Anne Macfarlane, Producer
Matt White, Writer
Marley Morrison, Director/Writer
Serena Armitage, Producer
Ben Steiner, Writer/Director
Abid Khan, Writer/Director
Becky Hutner, Director/Producer
Hannah Congdon, Producer/Director
Will Thorne, Director/Writer
Tina Gharavi, Director/Writer
Benjamin Blaine, Director/Writer
Chris Blaine, Director/Writer
Zam Salim, Director
Liv Proctor, Producer
Anshul Tiwari, Director/Writer
Susan Simnett, Producer
Alice Russell, Director
Carol Salter, Director
Atul Malhotra, Writer/Director
Sofia Olins, Director
Siân A. Williams, Director
Posy Kai Dixon, Director/Writer
Taira Akbar, Producer/Director
Damian McCann, Director
Nadira Murray, Producer
Henry Richmond, Producer
Roger Williams, Writer
Prasanna Puwanarajah, Director/Writer
As part of Springboard, participants will also take part in a mentoring scheme, which is supported by ScreenSkills as part of the BFI Future Film Skills programme using funds from the National Lottery.
Participants will be paired with mentors for 4 one-to-one mentoring sessions between November 2022 and January 2023. Mentors will have feature writing, directing or producing credits or have significant experience in other areas of the industry such as sales, financing or production. Mentors on the programme include BIFA and BAFTA winners and filmmakers with films that have been in selection at Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, TIFF and BFI London Film Festival.
Mentors and mentees are paired up based on the experience and career goals of the mentees. The scheme can be focused on a specific project in development, next steps toward a career goal or more holistic guidance on navigating the industry.
