We Are Parable, the award winning film exhibition platform, have announced a new partnership with Sony Pictures Television’s Creative Diversity Fund who will support the continued growth of Momentum, We Are Parable’s existing initiative funded by Channel 4 providing Black British filmmakers and content creators with the tools to enhance and elevate their careers. Sony Pictures Television (SPT) will join Momentum’s principle partners Channel 4 (who have signed on for another year) as supporters of the programme, with applications opening on Tuesday 18th July for the 2023 edition.
Since its inception, Momentum, which is funded by 4Skills, Channel 4’s nationwide training and development programme, has worked with 80 Black British creatives from around the UK, offering them a six month development programme that includes mentoring from leading film and television executives, mental health wellbeing workshops, access to industry experts and the opportunity to pitch to commissioners. Previous participants have included Adura Onashile, whose feature debut “Girl” will be released later this year and Idurobo Gift Imafidon, who produced the award winning “All the Colours of the World are between Black and White”, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February. This year’s programme will commence in October and will welcome another 60 filmmakers and content creators. SPT will support the Momentum programme through industry masterclasses and the provision of experienced mentors who will assist the selected creatives with navigating challenging areas in their careers.
Anthony Andrews, co-founder and creative director of We Are Parable, said:
“Having Sony Pictures collaborate with us on Momentum will enable us to offer our cohort the opportunity to hear from professionals across the organisation, enabling them to gain key insight and advice from world leaders in entertainment production.”
We Are Parable will also continue their support of past Momentum alumni through a series of conversations with professionals from both Sony Pictures and Channel 4, as well as ‘Momentum Mixers’ networking events designed to encourage connections between old and new cohorts.
Neeta Patel, Executive Director, Diversity, Inclusion & Talent and Melissa Sterling, Executive Director, Business Affairs, Sony Pictures Television, said: “Momentum is a fantastic initiative that accelerates opportunity and exposure for underrepresented filmmaking talent, which aligns perfectly with the aims of SPT’s Creative Diversity Fund. We are incredibly pleased to partner with We Are Parable and Channel 4 to support the bright futures for the new Momentum cohort.”
Anthony Andrews, co-founder and creative director at We Are Parable, added:
“One of the factors that is so important to filmmakers involved in Momentum, is the community they get to build. By creating a space which enables potential collaboration, we hope that our participants start to form meaningful and long term partnerships that lead to exceptional work in the months and years to come.”
Neila Butt, Creative Diversity Lead at Channel 4 said: “We are thrilled to have another partner in Sony on board for a programme that Channel 4 has committed to for another year. Our continued support means that a number of regional UK black filmmakers have flourished, and we are excited to see who our next cohort will be.”
Teanne Andrews, co-founder and director of operations at We Are Parable, said: “It’s our hope that this year’s Momentum programme is our biggest yet. It has the potential to provide our 2023 cohort with the tangible tools they need to move their careers forward to the next level.”
About We Are Parable
We Are Parable is an award winning platform that provides opportunities for global audiences to experience and respond to Black Cinema in culturally relevant and unique ways. Founded in 2013, their events primarily focus on the experience of the audience, ensuring that create spaces within cinematic venues which provide them with the ability to explore a film’s cultural importance; this is normally done by creating additional ‘wraparound’ events such as musical and/or spoken word performances, arts exhibitions or networking sessions. In 2020, they formed Momentum, a programme designed to support Black British filmmakers with mentoring, mental health support and access to industry professionals.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating a robust portfolio of wholly-owned and joint-venture production companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. SPT is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
About Channel 4
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer. The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For over 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy. Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.
About 4Skills
4Skills is Channel 4’s nationwide training and development strategy which aims to create thousands of opportunities nationwide with a particular focus on people from diverse and disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who want a career in broadcasting. (https://careers.channel4.com/4skills)
In 2022 4Skills generated more than 23,000 training, development and learning opportunities for people across the UK, focusing on people from underrepresented groups. It delivered more than 4,000 career progression opportunities through fast track schemes, bursaries, training and mentoring and more than 200 paid entry level roles including internships, apprenticeships and production training schemes. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.
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