Producer Stephen Woolley has been named as patron of the Directors Lab at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) for the second year running.
Woolley, a producer at Number 9 Films whose projects include Sounds Like Teen Spirit, How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, will lead the initiative, which works with six rising directors who are looking to move from shorts to features
The scheme is run by Lifestyle Pictures and funded by the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and Skillset.
The five day programme runs from June 19 - 24 and consists of a series of mentoring sessions from industry experts including producer Robert Jones (Run Fatboy Run), writer Tony Grisoni (Death Defying Acts, Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas) and actress Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave)
The six film-makers taking part in the scheme are:
- Esther May Campbell – winner of this year’s Short Film BAFTA for September
- Deborah Haywood – 2007 Screen International Star of Tomorrow
- Corinna Faith – BAFTA nominated for her short film Care
- Johnny Barrington – Scottish BAFTA nominated for short film Trout
- Chris Shepherd – multi award-winning animation and live action writer/director
- Avie Luthra – BAFTA nominated and Oscar-shortlisted for short film Lucky
Lenny Crooks, head of the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund, said: “At a time when audiences are seeing an exciting new wave of energy and creativity surfacing in British film, the UK Film Council/Skillset Lab is an excellent way of advancing the next generation of film-makers.”
EIFF artistic director Hannah McGill added: “The lab has already proven a hugely successful addition to the programme: nurturing and developing the next generation of world class UK filmmakers, and providing a platform for them to meet some of the leading figures in the industry. I’m delighted by the standard of this year’s participants and look forward to welcoming them all to the festival.”
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