BFI London Film Festival opens 2020 Critics Mentorship Programme exclusively to 6 Black applicants: Want a career as a Film Critic/Journalist apply now closes 25 Aug

BFI LFF 2020 Critics Mentorship Programme

Do you want be a film critic or journalist? Are you writing film reviews for blogs or social media but have not been able to break through to more established publications or platforms? Apply now to the BFI London Film Festival 2020 Critics Mentorship Programme for your chance to be mentored by industry media professionals and have your work published by LFF media partners and the BFI. Media partners include the Evening Standard, Empire and Sight and Sound. See full list below but you have the opportunity to have your work published in those publications!!

With the global uprisings in protest of systemic racism and in support of Black Lives Matter, now more than ever there is the need for more tangible actions to be taken in response to racial inequality in the film industry. We are looking at how we can better serve Black writers by offering mentorship that can pave the way to future opportunities for paid work in the media, so we will be offering the 2020 Critics Mentorship exclusively to 6 Black applicants.

There is a lack of diversity in film criticism that is damaging to film culture. This is exacerbated by a lack of opportunities for emerging critics to gain experience and have meaningful engagement with publications. Now in its third year, the LFF Critics Mentorship programme gives meaningful experience and opportunity to a range of talented emerging film writers.

Successful applicants will be invited to experience the BFI London Film Festival as an accredited Press delegate plus participate in an Induction Day, where they will meet the BFI LFF teams, their mentors and be taken through the mentorship programme. Film critic, journalist and screenwriter Kate Muir and journalist, commentator and founder of The British Blacklist, Akua Gyamfi will be overall mentors to each of the participants who will also individually be paired with a mentor from each media partner who will support them to produce up to three pieces of film journalism (reviews, interviews, articles) for publication on their websites and bfi.org.uk

The mentorship will be intensive for 4 days during the Festival, with full access to press screenings and events, writing reviews and features plus additional interview opportunities and an array of networking opportunities. The mentees will have full press accreditation for the 12 day duration of the LFF (7-18 October) and will be encouraged to and pitch editorial ideas to bfi.org.uk

Successful applicants will be supported to participate in the mentorship, receiving the London Living Wage for childcare or for loss of income during this mentorship period.

By the end of the programme, participants will have improved their film journalism skills and understanding of the industry and will have gained professional work experience, new work for their portfolio, industry contacts and a document of confirmation of having completed the placement.

CRITERIA: Applicants must be over 18, current UK residents and have not had any written work published in/on a national print publication/platform before. While we are looking for a group of Black (Black/African/Caribbean/Black British) mentees we welcome intersectionality and will aim for representation across gender, sexuality, age, disability, geographical location and socioeconomic circumstances across all applications. Applicants can apply via the BFI Jobs and Opportunities site: https://bfijobsandopportunities.bfi.org.uk/

Participating BFI LFF 2020 Media Partners include:

Evening Standard

Time Out

Sight & Sound

Empire

Screen International

Little White Lies

BFI website

Timetable