Business

Seven chosen for inaugural mentoring scheme for women in film and TV

Pictured at the launch of the WFTV NI inaugural mentoring scheme are mentees (l to r, back row) Milène Fegan, Dee Harvey, Karen Donnelly and Niamh Minihan with (front row) Margaret McGoldrick, Sarah McCaffrey, WFTV NI mentoring scheme producer and Grace Sweeney
Pictured at the launch of the WFTV NI inaugural mentoring scheme are mentees (l to r, back row) Milène Fegan, Dee Harvey, Karen Donnelly and Niamh Minihan with (front row) Margaret McGoldrick, Sarah McCaffrey, WFTV NI mentoring scheme producer and Pictured at the launch of the WFTV NI inaugural mentoring scheme are mentees (l to r, back row) Milène Fegan, Dee Harvey, Karen Donnelly and Niamh Minihan with (front row) Margaret McGoldrick, Sarah McCaffrey, WFTV NI mentoring scheme producer and Grace Sweeney

SEVEN women from the north have been selected for a pioneering new Women in Film and TV (WFTV) mentoring scheme designed to help those in the industry to take the next crucial step in their career.

Over the coming months they mentored by film and TV industry creative leaders including Netflix’s director of original documentary Kate Townsend; Derry Girls creator and writer Lisa McGee; renowned Game of Thrones producer Mark Huffam; Waddell Media’s managing director Jannine Waddell; Channel 4’s head of factual Danny Horan; BBC 3 controller Fiona Campbell; and film distributor and marketing consultant Julia Short.

The chosen mentees in this year’s scheme are Niamh Minihan, producer of Alleycats; Karen Donnelly, freelance producer; Milène Fegan, director and producer at Waddell Media; Margaret McGolderick, director and producer at Causeway Pictures; Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh, producer, director and writer at Doubleband Films; Grace Sweeney, freelance producer and director; and Dee Harvey, freelance writer and VR creator.

Kate Townsend from streaming service Netflix, which is sponsoring the initiative, says: “I'm delighted to be involved in a scheme which will help to develop the skills and talent of Northern Irish women working in the creative industry sector.”

Women in Film & TV is the leading membership organisation for women working in creative media in the UK and part of an international network of over 13,000 women.

Its UK chair Liz Tucker said: “We are incredibly grateful to Netflix for their support which has made it possible for us to run this innovative scheme.

“The training and mentoring provided by WFTV has proved to be industry leading. We’ve achieved tremendous results over the years with our London-based scheme and are really looking forward to assisting these talented Northern Ireland women reach the next level in their career.”

Sarah McCaffrey, mentoring scheme producer at WFTV in Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted WFTV has chosen to launch their first mentoring scheme outside of London in Northern Ireland - recognising the huge success of our women working in the film and TV industry here.

“It was a tough task selecting just seven mentees, but we hope to be in a position to offer more places in the coming years.”