The second edition of EIFF’s development and mentoring programme for screenwriters, directors and producers runs until November.

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has unveiled the six filmmaking teams that will participate in the second edition of Network, EIFF’s development and mentoring programme for screenwriters, directors and producers.

Supported by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2 and Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures Programme, Network runs until November and will see the teams work closely with mentors to develop their films and take them out into the industry.

Network is delivered by EIFF in partnership with Story Editor, Kate Leys.

All participants will attend the EIFF between June 19-30, before meeting again at the BFI London Film Festival in October.

The filmmaking teams and projects are:

  • Screenwriter Neil Hepburn, director Ben Soper and producers Katie Crook and Olivia Gifford with their thriller Night Falls

  • Producer Tessa Inkelaar and writer/director Christopher Andrews with their contemporary British Western Scuttler

  • Writer/director Chamoun Issa with a love story set against the backdrop of a modern war, Bulletproof

  • Producer Christine Cheung with her slate including drama Falling Leaves

  • Writer/director Jessica Townsend with an alternative road movie Siouxsie and the Banshee

  • Screenwriter Lucy Campbell with her thriller Pig Child

Leys commented: “We’re thrilled to be working with such a brilliant line-up of talent and such a wide range of great stories. These are filmmakers who will hit the ground running.”

“EIFF is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of filmmaking talent. Network is a key element of that support. We’re delighted with the selection of such a strong cohort of fantastic talent and are looking forward to welcoming all of the participants to Edinburgh in June,” added Ken Hay, CEO of EIFF.

Mentors in the inaugural edition of Network were producer Ivana MacKinnon, writer/producer Peter Ettedgui, producer Mia Bays and writer/director Clio Barnard. Guest mentors included writer/director Josh Appignanesi, producer Allon Reich and screenwriter Olivia Hetreed.

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