Lighthouse & Skillset are thrilled to announce that some of the
biggest names in UK film are joining Guiding Lights as mentors. The
mentors were revealed at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, and
underscore Guiding Lights’ reputation as the UK’s top film mentoring
scheme.
The illustrious line-up of industry professionals includes:
- Barbara Broccoli, highly successful producer of the Bond franchise
- Alex Garland, novelist and screenwriter of hit films, The Beach and
28 Days Later
- John Hillcoat, director of The Road and The Proposition
They join a long list of luminaries who have been involved with the
programme over the years, and will offer expert advice to a new
generation of exciting film talent. Each mentor develops a one-on-one
relationship with an up-and-coming director, writer, producer,
cinematographer or business professional, and works with them over a
year-long process.
Barbara Broccoli comments:
I am delighted to have been selected as a Guiding Light Mentor. It
is so important we nurture young people’s talent and creativity for
film-making and equip them with the skills required to continue the
success of the British film industry.
Returning to Guiding Lights as mentors for 2010 are industry legends
Christopher Hampton (screenwriter, Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement) and
Stephen Frears (director, The Queen, and latest Cannes sensation
Tamara Drew) and rising star Justin Chadwick (director, The Other
Boleyn Girl, Bleak House).
Guiding Lights Chair, Alison Thompson comments:
The calibre of this year’s mentees is a tribute to the continued
success of this exceptional programme. The very best of upcoming
talent has been matched by an equally illustrious group of industry
professionals and I wish them all the very best for the coming year.
This year’s Guiding Lights mentors are:
Directors
Justin Chadwick The Other Boleyn Girl, Bleak House
Stephen Frears My Beautiful Laundrette, The Queen
John Hillcoat The Road, The Proposition
Chris Smith Severance, Creep
Writers
Alex Garland The Beach, 28 Days Later
Christopher Hampton Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement
Producers
Barbara Broccoli Casino Royale, The World is Not Enough
Elizabeth Karlsen The Crying Game, How to Lose Friends and Alienate
People
Allan Niblo Human Traffic, Streetdance 3D
Cinematographers
John Mathieson Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven
Oliver Stapleton My Beautiful Launderette, The Cider House Rules
Peter Suschitzky Crash, Eastern Promises
Business Professionals
Eddie Berg Artistic Director, BFI Southbank
Sandra Hebron Artistic Director, London Film Festival
First launched in 2006, Guiding Lights has now mentored over 51
emerging film professionals, many of whom have gone onto significant
success. Five Guiding Lights participants have been named ‘Stars of
Tomorrow’ by Screen International, and several have won or been
nominated for BAFTAs.
This year's Guiding Lights participants are based all over the UK,
and work across fiction, animation and documentary. They are:
Directors: David Alexander, Ian Clark, Vesna Cudic, Gaëlle Denis,
Tina Gharavi, Richard Lawson, Omelihu Nwanguma, Martin Stitt, Emma
Sullivan, Duska Zagorac
Writers: Hajdana Baletic, Suhayla El-Bushra, Neth Knowles, Stewart
Thompson
Producers: Nicky Bentham, Natasha Carlish, Gael McLaughlin, Purnima
Ramadorai, Enrico Tessarin
Cinematographers: Sarah Bartles-Smith, Jaime Feliu-Torres, Taina
Galis, Suzie Lavelle
Business Professionals: Nadia Denton, Tamara Van Strijthem
Skillset's Director of Film, Neil Peplow, said:
A Bigger Future 2, Skillset's UK film skills strategy, aims to
nurture talent by investing in the training of the most promising
filmmakers; aiming to turn them into the award-winners, and
employers, of tomorrow’s industry. Guiding Lights provides a
fantastic opportunity for some of the best known names in the UK film
industry to help emerging talent develop long-term, successful careers.
Honor Harger, Director of Lighthouse comments:
We are delighted to welcome household names, Barbara Broccoli and
Alex Garland to the programme, who join an exceptionally strong group
of Guiding Lights mentors this year. Their insight and knowledge will
ensure that the participants of Guiding Lights become the stars of
tomorrow.
For further information please visit:
http://www.guiding-lights.org.uk/
Contact:
Emily Kyriakides
Phone: (44)01273 647197
Email: emily@lighthouse.org.uk
Notes to Editor
Lighthouse is a leading arts agency in South East England supporting,
commissioning and showcasing new work by artists and filmmakers. As
well as being a vibrant venue for events in Brighton, Lighthouse
supports artists and filmmakers by offering opportunities for
professional development through training and mentoring programmes.
Occupying an important strategic position at the intersection of the
art, film and creative industry sectors, Lighthouse advocates for
moving image, media arts and the new forms of practice made possible
by digital technologies. It has an ongoing exhibitions programme and
also runs regular events for digital artists and filmmakers. See:
www.lighthouse.org.uk
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, with
responsibility for 60 per cent of the UK Creative Industries. This
comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer
games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion
and textiles. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers
in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity
challenges by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations,
are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional
bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring
that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are
effectively represented at home and abroad. Investing Government
grant-in-aid and Lottery money in film development and production;
training; international development, export promotion; distribution
and exhibition; and education, with the aim of delivering lasting
benefits to the industry and the public alike.
Optimum Releasing is a UK-based all rights company, servicing the
release of feature films across Theatrical, Video, Television and
Online media. Having acquired a reputation for it's dynamic,
marketing-orientated approach to distribution, the formation of
Optimum Home Entertainment in 2004 saw the company move into the DVD
and video market, releasing over 60 titles in its first year of
operation alone. Since its inception in 1999, Optimum Releasing has
steadfastly adhered to one mantra: supporting filmmakers with a
vision, and bringing these visions to the widest audience possible.
The company will be further exploring its activities through
Production, whilst also looking at new means of distributing filmed
entertainment.
A Bigger Future is a joint strategy developed by Skillset and the UK
Film Council with the support of the Northern Ireland Film &
Television Commission, Scottish Screen and Sgrin Cymru Wales.
Guiding Lights Steering Committee
The Guiding Lights Steering Committee is chaired by Alison Thompson
(Focus Features) and includes:
Marc Boothe (B3 Media)
Natasha Galloway (United Agents)
Dan MacRae (Optimum Releasing)
Gillies Mackinnon (Director)
Nadine Marsh-Edwards (Shimmer Productions)
Neil Peplow (Skillset)
Shawn Slovo (Writer)
David Thompson (Origin Pictures)
For further information please visit:
http://www.guiding-lights.org.uk/