Meera Syal to host Trailblazer Masterclass as part of packed programme of Skillset events
Meera Syal will host one of a number of hot ticket Trailblazer masterclasses, breakfast sessions and careers panels being held by Skillset at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The renowned comedienne and actress stars in MAD, SAD & BAD, which premieres at the festival.
This year's 25 Traillblazers - new filmmaking talent selected from Skillset Screen Academy students and the EIFF British feature programme - include critically acclaimed actress Katie Jarvis, who stars in Cannes-nominated FISH TANK, directed by Andrea Arnold.
There will be an opportunity to interview this year's Trailblazers at a breakfast session, where awards will be handed out, on Monday, June 22, from 9.30-11am at the Caledonian Hilton. Former Trailblazer Eduard Grau, director of photography on Michael Powell Award contender K I C K S (starring another former Trailblazer Nichola Burley), will also be available for interview.
The Trailblazers scheme marks the joint commitment of Skillset and EIFF to developing and promoting new British talent, as well as offering Skillset screen academy graduates an introduction to the UK film industry and festival circuit.
Skillset is sponsoring the New Directors' Award, being announced on June 28. The award is selected from first and second time filmmakers in the Rosebud and British Gala sections and the winner will receive £5,000. Previous winners include Alejandro González Iñárritu, Paul Andrew Williams and Morgan Spurlock.
Skillset funds the training programme attached to Coming Up (June 18, 11.15am, Filmhouse 2), the innovative shorts scheme produced by Touchpaper TV, which gives filmmakers the chance to make short films with guaranteed broadcast on Channel 4 (June 25, 3.15pm, Filmhouse 1). Skillset also funds the training element of Cinema Extreme. The scheme, created by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film4, and managed by The Bureau, has supported filmmakers such as Oscar-winning Andrea Arnold (FISH TANK) and helps filmmakers get experience of working with larger budgets on a bigger scale. They are awarded £50,000 to make a film of up to half an hour.
The Directors' Lab is a Skillset and UK Film Council-supported initiative running from June 19-24, which gives six emerging directors the chance to take part in an intensive, five-day professional feature film initiative. Number 9 Films producer/director Stephen Woolley (SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT, HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE) has been named Patron of the Director's Lab for the second year running. Guest filmmakers, producers, agents and UK Film Council executives who will be working with the selected Directors include David Thompson, Robert Jones, Paul Fraser, Tony Grisoni and Kerry Fox.
The Skillset programme of events includes:
- Monday, June 22, 9.30-11am, Caledonian Hilton - Trailblazers breakfast session. Photocall, awards presented and media interviews.
- Monday, June 22, midday: Trailblazing shorts, Cameo 1 - a showcase of work from the UK's seven Skillset Screen Academies, featuring the work of 2009 Trailblazers
Tuesday, June 22, midday: Trailblazing shorts, Cameo 1 - a showcase of work from the UK's seven Skillset Screen Academies, featuring the work of 2009 Trailblazers.
These activities are all funded by Skillset, as part of the ground breaking UK film skills strategy A Bigger Future. Skillset is researching and developing the second phase of this strategy - the only one of its kind in the world. Its aim is to make sure that the UK film industry has the right people in the right place at the right time, so that it builds upon its reputation as one of the most successful film industries globally.
For all media enquiries please contact:
Jennifer Walters
e: jenniferw@skillset.org
t: 0207 713 9812
Notes to Editors
The Trailblazers selected from the EIFF 2009 features programme are:
Emily Beecham | The Calling | Actor |
Leigh Campbell | K I C K S | Screenwriter |
Lawrence Gough | Salvage | Director |
Kerrie Hayes | K I C K S | Actor |
Stuart Hazeldine | Exam | Director/ Screenwriter |
Katie Jarvis | Fish Tank | Actor |
Gerard Johnson | Tony | Director/ Screenwriter |
Bryan Larkin | Running in Traffic | Actor/ Screenwriter |
Justin Molotnikov | Crying with Laughter | Director |
Kyle Ward | A Boy Called Dad / Salvage | Actor |
The Trailblazers selected from the Skillset Screen Academy Network are:
The National Film & Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy
Ralitza Petrova | By the Grace of God | Director |
Michelle Eastwood | By the Grace of God | Producer |
Stuart Earl | By the Grace of God | Composer |
Vanessa Stockley | Emma & Ben | Director/ Cinematographer |
Mikael Svartdahl | Emma & Ben | Editor |
Skillset Screen Academy Wales
Robert Evans | Crescendo | Animator |
Michael O'Sullivan | Crescendo | Animator |
Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy
David Bell | Toy | Writer/Director/Producer/Animator |
Momodou Musa Touray | Sweet Mother | Director |
Edinburgh Skillset Screen & Media Academy
Eva Pervolovici | Down the Rabbit Hole | Director |
Shezad Afzal | Down the Rabbit Hole | Producer |
Amy Rose | Kirran and the Hatchmaker | Director |
The London Film School, A Skillset Screen Academy
Erik Bostedt | Capturing Space | Director |
Skillset Screen Academy at London College of Communication & Ealing Institute of Media
Tatiana Korol | Akbulak | Director/ Screenwriter |
Kasia Sobocinska | Akbulak | Cinematographer |
About Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
About the Edinburgh International Film Festival
Since 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival has devoted itself to discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and to embracing, celebrating and debating changes and developments in the global film industry. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to expose the cutting edge of new film talent, in a setting steeped in history. Notable films premiered in recent years have included: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, SOMERS TOWN, MAN ON WIRE, WALL-E, CONTROL, THE COUNTERFEITERS, KNOCKED UP, A MIGHTY HEART, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, LONDON TO BRIGHTON, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT, AMORES PERROS, AMÉLIE and YOUNG ADAM.