London’s National Film and Television School Launches New Initiatives to Bolster Female Directors

In an attempt to increase the number of female directors working in the United Kingdom’s film industry, London’s National Film and Television School has announced three new initiatives: a mentorship program for every female student working toward an MA Directing degree at NFTS, a tuition-free directing workshop for female graduates and/or women with at least three years of professional experience and a paid internship pairing all participants in the workshop with a writer, producer or director.

READ MORE: Showrunners on This Fall’s New TV Series Are 90% White and 80% Male

NFTS made the announcement at its annual fundraising gala last night. Barbara Broccoli, chair of the fundraising gala and a producer of both “Spectre” and “Skyfall,” said she is “excited by the initiatives announced today to boost the number of female filmmakers but there is more to be done by the industry itself. We women in film, especially those in positions of influence need to now really focus on supporting working with families so we don’t find ourselves losing valuable, talented and enthusiastic members of our industry.”

READ MORE: Geena Davis Producing Documentary On Systemic Gender Inequality in Hollywood

A report from Directors UK released last month revealed that 13.6% of films produced in the UK between 2002 and 2014 were directed by women; another showed that women accounted for only 20% of personnel on UK films last year. Over the last two years, conversely, 49% of NFTS’ students have been female.

Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.