Mentoring Carers in the Screen Industry with Raising Films Ireland and the National Talent Academy Film & TV

Raising Films Ireland (RFI) and the National Talent Academy Film & TV Drama (NTAFT) are curating a mentorship programme for writers, directors and/or producers, who are carers and parents seeking mentoring.

The aim of the Mentorship Scheme is to support carers and parents with career and professional development with one-to-one support. We recognise the need to maintain the vital resources our carers and parents provide, in their professional lives, to the creative industries. We want to create further opportunities for them to maintain and return to their careers, alongside their caring responsibilities. By making mentors available who have paved the way with their own careers, our aim, as always, is to make the screen industry more inclusive and accessible for carers and parents

Mentor and Mentee will be selected and matched by the RFI and the NTAFT. Mentees from all career levels, both new and established, will be welcome to apply. This includes talent who are job sharing or returning to work after a career break.

At this we are now accepting applications for interested creatives who would like to be a mentor.

Mentors from any area of the industry are welcome to apply, but note the mentees will be writers, directors and/or producers working in live-action-drama film and TV who are also carers and parents .

We are open to a mentoring team or a single mentor depending on their working practice and caring responsibilities. e.g. professionals who are job sharing; co-parenting and co-working; carers; single parents etc.

Interested mentors are asked to read the below information carefully and apply by Tuesday April 2nd 12PM Noon

Dates/Duration:

Approx. April- December 2024. Set hours and times will be at the discretion of the mentor/mentee team.

Who Can Apply:

We are open to Mentors from any areas of the screen industry, but note the mentees will be writers, directors and/or producers who are carers and parents.

Mentors must be Industry professionals working in the Irish screen sector with a minimum of three year’s experience.

We are open to a mentoring team or a single mentor depending on their working practice and caring responsibilities. e.g. professionals who are job sharing; co-parenting and co-working; carers; single parents etc.

Mentors will be asked to take Screen Ireland’s self-lead mentoring ‘Mentoring for Mentors’ session before starting the mentorship.

How To Apply:

Interested Mentors must apply by completing the linked form link HERE

In this form you will be asked to supply a download (Google Drive or Dropbox preferred) link with the follow materials:

Media CV – detailing relevant experience.
A short personal statement and mentorship proposal, detailing what you can offer as a mentor, including your background as a carer and/or parents.

Up to 2 pages or a filmed statement of up to 3 minutes. (Examples of mentoring: one-to-one support, feedback sessions, honing of career and networking skills, Life-work balance and wellbeing advice, and/or business or career upskilling and development.)

An incomplete application will not be taken into consideration.

Please note the above dates are flexible but it is advised that mentors with very busy schedules should ensure they are available for this time commitment before applying.

How The Mentorship Will Work:

The selected mentors will advertise on the NTA website. Interested writers, directors and/or producers will be invited to apply and ask to select a mentor.

Mentors and mentees will be matched by RFI and NTAFT with input from the mentors.

Under the guidance of the NTAFT and Raising Films, objectives, goals and expectation of the mentorship will be set. From here, the mentor and mentee will coordinate ten-hours at their convenience (online and in person).

Mentors will be paid for their time.

~~Deadline to apply: March 29th 12PM Noon~~

Extended deadline: Tuesday April 2nd 12PM Noon

Selection Process:

The applications will be assessed by a panel to include representatives of the National Talent Academy for Film & Television, Raising Films Ireland, and independent external assessors.

This is an open application process, however in some instances the NTA Film & TV may work with industry stakeholders including the Guilds, Raising Films Ireland and Screen Ireland to identify talent who are ready to progress and encourage them to apply.

The NTA Film & TV reserves the right to make amendments to this initiative subject to funding, production landscape and health and safety requirements at the time of delivery.

Further Information:

For any questions, please email eibh.collins@nationaltalentacademies.ie

Raising Films Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to challenge, at a structural level, the demands that the film and television industry makes on parents and carers. The organisation aims to provide information, education and solutions with a focus on:

Encouraging industry-wide adoption of flexible working and access to child and/or elder care.
Formalising a way to combat discrimination.
Normalising conversations around caring commitments with employers.

Find out more about Raising Films Ireland on their WEBSITE.

An Open Call for Mentee application will be launched in April 2024.

The National Talent Academies Film and TV are an initiative of Screen Ireland managed by Ardán