Applications Closed.

FILMONOMICS 6: First Time Feature Filmmakers

31 March - 21 June 2022

 

Birds Eye View Filmonomics, supported by ScreenSkills as part of the BFI Future Film Skills programme using funds from the National Lottery, is back!

 

March 31-June 21 2022

 

Birds’ Eye View’s highly regarded filmmaker programme, Filmonomics, has returned with Filmonomics 6, a training course for First Time Feature Filmmakers (writers/directors/producers) of marginalised genders, who are either on the cusp of their first feature or have just made/released their debut. The programme is funded by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen industries, as part of the BFI Future Film Skills programme using funds from the National Lottery. 

 

The applicant’s first feature may be fiction, non-fiction, hybrid, of any genre and genre defying. Beneficiaries will be early-career (though not new entrants) with the course designed to bridge the gap between development and distribution – mixing industry knowledge with behind-the-scenes networking and discussions on vital topics such as finance, teams, marketing, exhibition and audience development.

 

The bespoke programme (Film + Economics) is a business-training programme which balances creative and commercial aspects of filmmaking and production. The course content is wide-ranging: from sessions on developing confidence in your presentation style with trained psychologists, and interrogating rejection with professional coaches, to case studies, project work, current box office and data analysis, future trend-forecasting, as well as networking sessions and screening events.  The programme runs over 10 x sessions and is a blend of day/evening workshops, 8 on line and 2 in person (if possible). 

 

 Another popular aspect of the programme is the focus on individual development with sessions focussing on speaking with confidence, and how to deal with challenging characters.

 

Speakers and coaches will include: Alison Thompson (Co-President at Cornerstone)Annette Corbett (Leadership Coach), Caroline Goyder (Coach/Author), Julia Short (Trainer/Consultant), Kate Leys (Script & story editor), Anna Seifert-Speck (Script & story editor), Lucy Jones (Exec Director of Comscore Movies), Mia Bays (Head of BFI Film Fund), Shanida Scotland (Director at Doc Society), Charles Gant (Screen International/freelance film journalist and critic), Delphine Lievens (Head of Distribution Bohemia Media), Droo Padhiar (Head of Marketing, Dogwoof), Lia Devlin (Managing Director at Altitude), Wendy Mitchell (Sundance London/Festival Consultant), Cate Kane (Co-Head of Acquisitions at MUBI), plus alumni from previous editions of Filmonomics. Other speakers will be announced shortly.

 

The impact is tangible – a small selection of the folks we’ve supported: Thembisa Cochrane and Georgina Paget made THE COLOUR ROOM for Sky (2021) which was on the programme. Camilla Wren and Shirine Best met on the programme and are now 2021-22 BFI Vision Awardees with their new company. Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor was on the programme in 2018 and went onto produce BLUE STORY and BOXING DAY. Christiana Ebohon-Green and Darcia Martin are two directors blazing a trail in TV who have directed CALL THE MIDWIFE, SOON GONE and VERA to name a few.  Helen Jones (producer ) Naomi Wright (executive producer) Silver Salt Films’ first feature film CENSOR which premiered at Sundance and Berlin 2021 and subsequently went on general release in the US and the UK. Paul Sng developed and co-directed BIFA winning POLY STYRENE I AM NOT A CLICHÉ on the programme. Roger Williams backed by Film Cymru and BFI went onto produce THE FEAST.

 

Testimonials from alumni

“It has been so wonderful for us to have your support all the way from Filmonomics and beyond, and to be connected to all the inspiring women and allies that have come from that time!” 

Thembisa Cochrane (The Colour Room 2021)

 

“Thank you thank you thank you-I’ve already recommended this to two people for next year!”

Georgie Paget (The Colour Room 2021)

 

“It’s so good to hear that this programme is coming back again – it really did wonders for me”

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (Boxing Day 2021) & (Blue Story 2019)

 

“Thank you for your faith and enthusiasm. You find outsiders and help to guide them through the pitfalls. You are creating change in the Industry, rather than just talking about it like many others.” 

Christiana Ebohon-Green

 

“The Filmonomics Course was a real boost in my career at a time when there seemed to be even less opportunities than there are now. I felt a real sense of encouragement and collaboration being part of a closely knit Filmonomics cohort,  and even though this was three years ago, we are still in touch. I’ve also been so proud to see fellow course attendees go on to do great things.”

Naomi Wright (Censor 2021)

how it works



Filmonomics is targeted at feature film directors, writers, and producers, and will prioritise global majority and marginalised talent (individuals or teams) where at least one participant is representative of one of these groups.

The total cost for the programme is £ 350 + vat for individuals / freelancers / those paying from their own company with fewer than five employees, and £400 + vat where we are invoicing an employer of five + employees.  This cost has been greatly subsidised by our funders.

We have Discretionary Access Support (DAS) funds available to cover travel, accommodation (for applicants based outside of London), and childcare/other carers. DAS will be disseminated according to the shared needs of the successful applicants. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  There’s also several full programme DAS available for routine manual and service occupations; semi-routine manual and long-term unemployed.

From the previous Filmonomics cohort, 100% said they would recommend the course. By the end of the programme, “very confident” increased from 4% to 56%” – confidence being one of a number of indicators of impact that we would look for when assessing whether the course reached its desired outcomes.

 

The deadline date for applications Tue 8 March – 10am

 

TO APPLY PLEASE CLICK HERE

(scroll down to the end for application guidelines)

 

We will notify successful applicants on Thu 17 March. 

If you are not contacted, it means your application has unfortunately been unsuccessful. As we are a charity with a small staff, we are unable to give individual feedback on your application.

Enquiries should be emailed to course manager Simone Glover: mail@birds-eye-view.co.uk 

Please put in the subject line of your email: FILMONOMICS 6 before your enquiry heading. Thank you.

 

 

COURSE LEADER



The course will be run by Kate Gerova (course facilitator), Melanie Iredale (Birds Eye View director) and

Simone Glover (Birds Eye View Training Manager).

 

 

Kate Gerova (she/her)

Course Facilitator

Mustard Studio Co-founder and Creative Director Kate Gerova comes from an exhibition and distribution background, most recently as Group Director of Brand and Marketing for boutique cinema circuit Curzon Cinemas. Whilst there, she blended strategy, numbers and customer-centric campaigns to increase membership, spearhead the brand identity and combine the vision for cinemas and the Home Cinema platform. Previously creative director of the Bird’s Eye View film festival, Kate launched Filmonomics, a training development programme for female filmmakers. She has recently completed a 10-month programme in UX and UI strategy and design to enhance her understanding of customer behaviour and implement better experiences

 

Melanie Iredale (she/her)

Birds Eye View Director

Melanie Iredale is a film curator and cultural activist. She is the newly appointed Director of Birds’ Eye View, a charity with a mission to champion broader perspectives of the world through films by women & non-binary creatives and to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in cinema. She is also an Exec Producer on the award-winning REBEL DYKES, which screened in 50+ festivals internationally and 40+ cinemas in the UK since its premiere at BFI Flare 2020. Prior to this, Melanie served as Deputy Director and Programmer at Sheffield DocFest, 2014-2021, with a background of developing audiences in the North of England for international cinema since 2005.

 

Simone Glover (she/her)

Birds Eye View Training & Content Manager

Simone has worked in the film industry for over 20 years in various roles in story development and training. Prior to joining Birds’ Eye View in it’s new guise 2015, Simone worked at Academy Award-winning production company ‘Missing In Action Films’. Prior to this, Simone worked for Arista Development, a training initiative in which Pan-European writers, producers, directors and development executives gained theoretical knowledge and practical techniques vital to develop their stories. Simone is a graduate of the programme. Simone has been a freelance story developer, and a reader for most of the regional screen agencies, including Film London’s Microwave and London Calling schemes. As a screenwriter, Simone has written a number of short films and TV, one a winner of BBC Northern Ireland NIFTC for Northern Lights, another, starring Ben Whishaw, backed by the BBC, was nominated for Best Short at Danny Boyle’s Shuffle Film Festival. Simone’s co-written original comedy feature, created with actor Adrian Dunbar, is in development with Northern Ireland Screen. Simone’s original period/action/adventure feature recently got her a place as a finalist on The Writers Lab UK & Ireland  in 2021.

 

 

About Birds Eye View 

Birds Eye View brings a wider perspective of the world by championing cinema by women & non-binary filmmakers. Our mission is to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in film by fostering a community for those who make, show, release and watch them.

 

We do this through

Increasing the impact of, and developing the conversations around, films by women and non-binary people.

Increasing, developing, and diversifying audiences by making the cinema experience safe, accessible, relevant and inclusive.

Increasing equal access and opportunities within the film industry for women and non-binary people.

We define films by women as directed (or co-directed by, with 50% female credit or more). Our events, however, are for everyone of all genders to enjoy.

 

What We Do

Reclaim the Frame – developing audiences and building communities for films by women & non-binary filmmakers by bringing people together for events and conversations through a  network of 19 plus cinemas across the UK. 

Training / Mentoring – Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses and workshops for women and non-binary filmmakers/screenwriters, and film distribution/exhibition professionals to enable professional growth and, in turn, to address their  historical under-representation as creatives and gatekeepers within the sector.

Advocacy – using our voice and platforms to agitate for equity, diversity and inclusion in cinema, to support others doing good work in this area, and to foster community.

 

About ScreenSkills 

ScreenSkills is the industry-led skills body for the screen industries – film, television (including children’s, unscripted and high-end), VFX, animation and games. We are supporting future innovation and growth across the whole of the UK by investing in the skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the global success of the screen sector. We are funded by industry contributions to our Skills Funds, by the BFI with National Lottery funds awarded as part of its Future Film Skills programme to help people get into the industry and progress within it, and by Arts Council England.

www.screenskills.com

SPEAKERS & COACHES

ANNETTE CORBETT 

LEADERSHIP COACH

KATE LEYS 

SCRIPT & STORY EDITOR

WENDY MITCHELL 

SUNDANCE LONDON/FESTIVAL CONSULTANT

 ALISON THOMPSON 

CO-PRESIDENT AT CORNERSTONE

 MIA BAYS 

DIRECTOR OF THE BFI FILM FUND

 JULIA SHORT 

TRAINER/CONSULTANT

 

 DROO PADHIAR 

HEAD OF MARKETING AT DOGWOOF

 LIA DEVLIN 

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT ALTITUDE 

CAROLINE GOYDER 

COACH/AUTHOR

ANNA SEIFERT-SPECK 

SCRIPT & STORY EDITOR

DELPHINE LIEVENS 

HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION AT BOHEMIA MEDIA

CHARLES GANT

SCREEN INTERNATIONAL FREELANCE FILM JOURNALIST & CRITIC 

STEPHEN FOLLOWS 

FILM INDUSTRY ANALYST

LUCY JONES 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT COMSCORE

 

CATE KANE 

CO-DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ACQUISITIONS AT MUBI

 

PAUL SNG 

FILMMAKER AND WRITER

MICALLAR WALKER  

CEO & FOUNDER OF DARK MATTER 

MARILYN MILGROM

SCRIPT & STORY EDITOR

ASHANTI MCINTOSH

 STUDIOCANAL UK HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS

 

 

CARMEN GRAY 

FILM CRITIC, ARTS JOURNALIST & PROGRAMMER

ANNA SEIFERT-SPECK

SCRIPT & STORY EDITOR

THEMBISA COCHRANE

PRODUCER AND CO-FOUNDER OF CASPIAN FILMS

GEORGIE PAGET

PRODUCER AND CO-FOUNDER OF CASPIAN FILMS

TEJINDER JOUHAL

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION AT HANWAY FILMS

TEANNE ANDREWS

CO-FOUNDER/ DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF WE ARE PARABLE

AMEENAH ALLEN 

BAFTA-NOMINATED, BIFA-WINNING BRITISH FILM & TV PRODUCER

Current Cohort

Afia Nkrumah (She/her)

Afia is an alumna of Edinburgh TV Festival for their Ones To Watch Talents, a director in film and TV drama, credits include Call The Midwife (BBC), Coronation Street (ITV), A Place Of Safety (All 3 Media).

Bircan Birol (She/her)

Bircan is a documentary filmmaker based in Scotland. She began filming journalistic documentaries and covering news about human rights issues in Turkey. She is currently working on her first feature documentary Your Honour and works on other short multimedia projects.

Cherish Oteka (They/them)

Cherish is a documentary filmmaker who aims to challenge false narratives and provide a platform for often-marginalised communities to tell their stories on their terms. They are the winner of the 2022 BAFTA Award for Best Short Film, The Black Cop.

Emily Everdee (She/her)

Emily is an independent film producer from Doncaster. Through her company Everdee Media, Emily is developing compelling, audience-facing feature film and TV projects from distinctive, authentic voices in a range of genres.

Fozia Khaliq (She/her)

Fozia is a Producer and founder of Public Display of Affection Films, an emerging Film and TV production company showcasing ambitious and authored storytelling from across the globe.

Isla Badenoch (She/her)

Isla is a writer, director and producer based in the rural borderlands of the three shires, UK. As a self-taught documentary filmmaker, her atmospheric films explore unexpected stories of hidden lives.

Jo Tracy (She/her)

After working as assistant editor at Virago Press, Jo moved to script editing at the BBC before becoming Head of Development at The Bridge Production Co, then at Norma Heyman’s Pagoda Film & TV.  After having children Jo worked as a freelance script editor, before joining SHY PUNK as Development Producer in 2019.

Katie Dolan (She/her)

Katie ran music video and content at Caviar TV, as well as heading up Black Dog Films. As an independent producer and executive producer (since 2019), Katie works with award-winning filmmakers across both film and television. 

Lesley-Anne Macfarlane (She/her)

Lesley-Anne is a producer based in the UK and the Caribbean. In production for the documentary, 1990, she is also currently in post-production on her first feature film “Little English; and her latest short film Immune is on the festival circuit and has won several awards.

Libby Potter (She/her)

Libby Potter is a drama producer and mother of 4. She started as a reporter and producer for BBC News in New York just before 9/11. She came home to the UK and worked as a reporter and presenter for BBC 2 & BBC 3, culminating in three years as co-host of The Money Programme.  In 2019 she found a way to return to my first love, storytelling, and SHY PUNK was born.

Lidz-Ama Appiah (She/her)

Lidz was a journalist before moving into factual series and long-form documentaries. She spent over twenty years at WarnerMedia, NBC Universal and Bloomberg Media. Currently, she is producing a slate of independent projects with the most recent feature film Queen of Glory (from actor and first-time director Nana Mensah). 

Liv Little (She/her)

Liv is an award-winning writer. She started her career on Chanel 4’s TV production trainee scheme and as the founder of gal-dem. Her debut novel Rosewater will be published in 2023. Liv was one of BBC Studios’ writers in residence for 2021, where she developed an original pilot for a queer conspiracy thriller. 

Lizzie Mackenzie (She/her)

After 7 years of developing trust with her protagonist, Lizze’s debut feature was released. The Hermit of Treig, followed an elderly hermit in the Scottish Highlands over multiple years of his life. Lizzie now develops her second feature, exploring the female bond with horses and what has been lost through the process of domestication.

Lowri Roberts (She/her)

Lowri is a BAFTA Cymru winning short filmmaker from North Wales, now based in Somerset. She works as Head of Productions at Rapt, as Maisie Williams’ producing partner, where they’re in development of a number of feature films and a series.

Meloni Poole (She/her)

Meloni is an award-winning writer/director whose films have been commissioned by Film4, BFI, Channel 4, Creative England, Screen Yorkshire and the Arts Council of England. Her debut feature, Thirst was shortlisted for Sundance Screenwriters Lab and in 2021 selected for Cannes, Frontieres, co-production market.

Mo Wani (She/her)

Mo transitioned from the corporate sector in 2019 with the aim of writing and producing films that elicit empathy, change perspective and inspire potential so we can close the gap on what divides us. Using transferred skills and a wealth of experience she produced the multi-award-winning short Immune in 2020 and is currently developing two female-led features.

Rachel Ramsay (She/her)

Rachel is a documentary filmmaker with a background in news journalism and factual TV. Her work is driven by character-led storytelling, a cross-cultural approach and an ambition to uncover repressed and forgotten stories, writing their protagonists back into history.

Zoe Dobson (She/her)

Zoe started out directing the seminal T4 agit-prop series Wise Up, for which she won a Bafta. She made the International Emmy nominated series, Why do We Dance? and the acclaimed film on the band Duran Duran: There is Something You Should Know. Zoe’s directorial debut The Cunning Man  was Bafta long listed, officially selected at 4 Oscar Qualifying and won four Best Director awards.

application & deadline



Tue 8 March – 10am

We will notify short-listed participants by the end of the day  Thu 10 March and set up 20 minute Zoom calls on Tue 15 or Wed 16 March. We will notify successful applicants on Thu 17 March by close of play.

If you are not contacted, it means your application has unfortunately been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, we are a charity with a small staff, so are unable to give you feedback on your application.

Enquiries should be emailed to course manager Simone Glover: mail@birds-eye-view.co.uk

Please put in the subject line of your email: FILMONOMICS 6 before your enquiry heading. Thank you.