ScreenSkills and Adobe Foundation are collaborating to launch the third Film Forward programme to support deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent professionals in the film industry.
- The initiative aims to remove barriers, providing opportunities in virtual production, post, and VFX sectors for mid-level talent.
- Five experienced professionals will gain hands-on experience and mentorship at leading companies through paid placements starting in 2025.
- The programme underlines a commitment to diversity, seeking to create pathways for underrepresented talent to ascend to senior roles.
- Research highlights a need for increased representation of DDN professionals, which this programme aims to address through industry partnerships.
The third iteration of the Film Forward programme, launched by ScreenSkills in partnership with the Adobe Foundation, seeks to advance the careers of deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent (DDN) professionals in the screen industries. This initiative aims to dismantle barriers and create opportunities in virtual production (VP), post, and visual effects (VFX) sectors for mid-level professionals. Anita Overland, chair of the Film Skills Council, emphasised the importance of nurturing diverse talent across the industry to ensure its future success.
Building upon the achievements of previous Film Forward programmes, the latest initiative will offer paid placements to five professionals from the DDN community in 2025. These professionals, possessing at least three years of experience in VP, post, or VFX, will gain firsthand experience and invaluable mentorship at top companies such as Bild Studios, Final Pixel, Framestore, and Molinare. This opportunity will aim to expand their professional networks and enhance their career prospects within these growing sectors.
ScreenSkills’ commitment to fostering inclusivity is evident in this programme’s design, focusing on essential career development opportunities. Emma Turner, head of the Film Skills Fund, highlighted the programme as a significant step in fostering inclusivity by targeting DDN professionals for development. With the film and television industry seeing rapid changes and increased digital content production, Turner’s remarks reflect the necessity of levelling the playing field for these talented individuals.
Research from the BFI Diversity Standards and the Creative Diversity Network’s Diamond Report underscores the existing lack of representation of DDN professionals in the industry. By creating meaningful pathways and opportunities for these individuals to thrive in senior production roles, the Film Forward programme addresses these gaps. It forms part of ScreenSkills’ ongoing mission to boost diversity and inclusion at every level of the UK film industry, leveraging partnerships with the Adobe Foundation and leading industry companies.
Laura Mansfield, CEO of ScreenSkills, underscores the strategic partnerships with companies like Bild Studios, Final Pixel, Framestore, and Molinare. These alliances are pivotal in breaking down barriers and providing participants with essential hands-on experience in key areas, ensuring the industry becomes more inclusive and benefits from a more diverse talent pool.
The Film Forward programme, through strategic collaborations and targeted development, represents a decisive move towards a more inclusive UK film industry for DDN professionals.
