The Film Futures bursary scheme is one of a raft of continuing professional development programmes supported by Skillset as part of A Bigger Future.

Aimed at developing the skills of the existing film workforce in priority areas, the scheme helps individuals to access short courses, masterclasses and conferences or to complete a recognised industry qualification. Bursaries are available to both freelances and permanent employees with a minimum of two years' professional experience in the industry and cover a proportion of fees, travel and accommodation costs.

Business skills training for producers, production executives and distributors is one of the scheme's current priorities. In the last twelve months Film Futures support has enabled producers to take up places on a wide variety of courses including the EAVE producer's training programme and the European co-production course at the Erich Pommer Institute in Germany.

Producer Paul Zabihi received a bursary from the scheme to attend Argovela Films' Global Negotiations workshop on co-production in Athens in April 2006. Formerly a freelance art director and production designer, Zabihi decided to start his own production company, Picture on the Wall, with partner Zara Balfour three years ago.

"We produce anything from music videos to commercials to corporates," says Zabihi. "But we are really concentrating on the feature film side of our business at the moment so it was a great chance to push the projects we've got along the lines of co-productions.

"The workshop was the perfect course for me for two reasons. Firstly it gave me a tremendous opportunity to network with other European filmmakers, particularly those from East European countries which are launching new incentives. And secondly, the short courses and one-to-one sessions with industry professionals were really useful."

The three-day workshop consisted of a mixture of case studies, lectures and individual sessions covering such topics as the pyschology of negotiating, overcoming obstacles to co-production, dealing with creatives and cultural differences.

"The Skillset bursary gives you a fantastic opportunity to actually do these things as and when they come up," adds Zabihi. "It was great to meet a wide range of useful contacts in the industry, particularly as it was just before Cannes and the kick off of the whole festival round."