Top names from the world of filmmaking, including Paul Greengrass, Gurinda Chadha and Stephen Frears are taking on a new mentoring role to help support the next generation of UK film talent. Guiding Lights, launched by Skillset and Brighton based training provider Lighthouse, pairs established names, including writer Julian Fellowes and producer Michael Kuhn, with 26 of the hottest new talents in the UK for 12 months of mentoring, advice and support.

The initiative is part of A Bigger Future, the UK film skills strategy, a joint project between Skillset and the UK Film Council funded by national lottery money and industry investment. James Purnell MP, Minister for Film, said: “Mentoring is an excellent way to tap into the invaluable knowledge and skills of people with a vast working experience. And it's a rewarding way of sharing that experience and developing the people working alongside you.

The film industry has embraced this idea through the Guiding Lights scheme and should be congratulated - as should Skillset and Lighthouse for creating and delivering this groundbreaking and innovative project.”

Judy Counihan, former Director of Film at Skillset, said: “Over 12 months these new talents will learn from the best and most experienced practitioners working in the UK film industry today. It is an amazing opportunity for young professionals to further their careers and for the industry to help nurture the new talent needed for future success. Our film industry always seems to suffer from a cycle of peaks and troughs and Guiding Lights is just one of many initiatives Skillset and the industry is working on to help build stronger foundations for the next generation of filmmakers.”

The full list of mentoring pairs are as follows:

DIRECTORS:

Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) Joseph Briffa (Scotland)

Stephen Frears (Mrs Henderson Presents) Joe Tunmer (Sussex)

Richard Loncraine (Wimbledon) Andy Heathcote (Sussex)

Asif Kapadia (The Warrior) Rob Fox (London)

Gurinder Chadha (Bride and Prejudice) Deva Palmier (London)

Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) Liz Crow (Bristol)

Dominic Savage (Love + Hate) Kothai Kanthan (London)

Gillies MacKinnon (Tara Road) Ben and Chris Blaine (Hertfordshire)

WRITERS:

Will Davies (Johnny English) Trevor Campbell (London)

Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) Maureen Blackwood (London)

Shawn Slovo (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) Kas Graham (London)

Mark Peploe (The Last Emperor) Faisal Qureshi (Cheshire)

Christopher Hampton (The Quiet American) Jason King (Wales/Somerset)

Deborah Moggach (Pride and Prejudice) Teresa Godfrey (Northern Ireland)

PRODUCERS

Norma Heyman (Mrs Henderson Presents) Lachlan MacKinnon (Scotland)

Steve Clark Hall (Separate Lies) Abigail Davis (Bristol)

Michael Kuhn (I Heart Huckabees) Elaine Wickham (Kent)

Andrew Eaton (A Cock and Bull Story) Michael Knowles (Manchester)

Graham Broadbent (Millions) Laura Hastings Smith (London)

AGENT

Tim Corrie, Agent, Peter Fraser and Dunlop Chris Calitz (London)

SALES

Jane Barclay, MD, Capital Films Rosana Coutinho (London)

BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Peter Watson, Chief Executive, Recorded Picture Company Charles Collier (London)

MARKETING

Anna Butler, Head of Marketing and Publicity, Pathe Films Martin Gough (London)

PUBLICITY

Kate Wyhowska, Vice President, Publicity, Universal Lisa Hill (Manchester)

DISTRIBUTOR Eve Gabereau, MD, Soda Pictures Rina Randeep Sagoo (Sussex)

Gurinder Chadha said: “I am keen to work with Skillset and be involved in Guiding Lights as it encourages us to have a bigger, better film culture here in Britain. This project will help ensure the future talent in our industry is supported. Mentoring and inspiring others - from 8 to 80 - to tell their stories on film is immensely rewarding for me.”

Norma Heyman said: "If the film industry is to flourish, training is essential. Therefore, it must bring in fresh talent and encourage it to reach exciting new heights. By identifying able young individuals and providing them with experienced professional mentors, the Guiding Lights scheme is perfectly designed to achieve this."

Deborah Moggach said: “"Skillset and Lighthouse are bringing together the new and the experienced through Guiding Lights and both sides have a great deal to learn. Mentoring is not a one-way activity, after all, if a writer is any good, they're learning something every single day."

Sarah Flint, Chief Executive of Lighthouse, said: “Mentoring is an excellent way for new talent to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen profession. The 26 talented up-and-coming filmmakers we have selected for Guiding Lights will have a unique opportunity to learn from the extensive experience of top UK film professionals who can advise and assist them in formulating a clearly focused and structured route through the industry.”

A nationwide call for applications for mentees opened in September 2005. Eligible applicants were writers, directors, producers, distributors, exhibitors, marketing executives, film publicists, sales agents, talent agents and business affairs executives who could demonstrate experience within the film industry. Mentors and mentees were carefully matched and a personal development plan agreed with each mentee. Final selection of successful candidates was made by the Lighthouse Project Team, a mentoring consultant and members of the Guiding Lights Steering Committee Chaired by Tim Bevan, Co-Chairman of Working Title. As well as having regular monthly contact, mentees will get the chance to shadow their mentor in the workplace.

Tim Bevan said: “Training in film is very difficult as most skills used in the movie business from producer to production runner are learnt on the job. This is why the concept of mentoring is such a good one for our industry. Having a formal bond where someone learning about their chosen career in the industry can have ongoing advice from someone with great experience should be invaluable and help in the demystifying of all of our roles.”