Applications now open for traineeship scheme to diversify the film industry workforce
FILM INDUSTRY organisations, Film Distributors’ Association and the Independent Cinema Office are delighted to announce that the industry-wide paid-traineeship scheme will run for a second year starting in March.
The nine-month office-based placements have been designed as part of the drive to increase diversity in the film industry workforce and aims to recruit a majority of candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) backgrounds as these groups are currently underrepresented in the industry.
Have you ever thought about how films engage with audiences>
Have you ever wondered who chooses which film shows in your local cinema on a Friday night, or in fact how any film makes it to the big screen?
Now ambitious trainees seeking to find the answers to these questions have a unique opportunity to take up placements in the businesses making this happen.
The objective of this UK-wide scheme (with the independent exhibition placements taking place outside of London) is to provide the best possible platform for the participants to gain valuable work experience to improve their future employability.
The scheme was piloted for the first time last year and so far 80 per cent of the participants have secured on-going employment in the commercial sectors of the film industry.
ALL SMILES: 2015 Industry Trainees photographed with FDA President, Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, CBE
Funded by Creative Skillset; Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) is partnering with the Independent Cinema Office and Film Export UK to repeat this cross-sector traineeship scheme for film distribution, independent exhibition, and international sales companies.
The three sectors form the commercial engine which drive the UK film industry and contribute significantly to the national economy.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday, January 18.
Full details of how to apply are available here: www.launchingfilms.com/industry-trainee-scheme or visit: www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk/training/feds2016
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
https://fs8.formsite.com/FDAINTERN/form2/index.html
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE, President of Film Distributors’ Association said: “To land a great job in today’s fast-moving film business, young people must be utterly exceptional – today ‘average’ is over. So what better way could there be for them to improve their chances than to take one of these new traineeships? I’m delighted that FDA has partnered up to deliver a truly robust, sector-wide scheme, and I look forward to meeting the trainees at the beginning of the programme.”
Catharine Des Forges, Director of the ICO said a “scheme like this is really overdue” and was “delighted to be leading the charge along with our delivery partners FDA, Film Export UK and funding support from Creative Skillset”.
“This scheme presents a golden opportunity for talented new entrants to put their best foot forward in a film business where doors are not always easy to open,” she said. “With a focus on recruiting BAME, female and disabled candidates we are striving to create equal opportunities for those currently underrepresented in the UK film industry with the ambition that, one day, the diversity of the workforce will better reflect the UK population.”
Creative Skillset Chair, Dinah Caine CBE, added: “This is a brilliant programme that completely delivers to our best practice guidance on structured placements in the media industries. We’re delighted that Creative Skillset is supporting the industry with these paid work placements that build upon the success of the first scheme operating across film distribution, international sales and exhibition companies and will help deliver the next generation of talent.”
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