We’re delighted to team up with the renowned NFTS Leeds (National Film and Television School) who will deliver a series of sessions for Midlands based producers looking to take the next steps to longer form projects and grow their slate of projects and production company.
What is it?
The Next Steps Sessions will provide up to 30 producers the opportunity to take part in online sessions delivered by NFTS Leeds over three afternoons. Numbers are limited to ensure the group is small enough to leave room for questions and for participants to get what they need from the session. We hope participants will leave the sessions feeling more confident about their own journey, their own producing skills and perhaps offer insight into next steps they had not thought of before.
When is it?
The sessions will take place online via zoom on Tuesday 26th March, Wednesday 27th March and Thursday 28th March from 2pm - 3:30pm each day.
All participants must be able to attend all three sessions. The sessions are completely free to attend.
The Sessions
Navigating the world as an Independent Producer – Ameenah Ayub Allen
Ameenah is a BAFTA Nominated and BFIA-winning producer. She has worked on all Clio Barnard’s feature Films, including as co-producer on Ali and Ava (2021). She produced Sarah Gavron’s Feature Rocks (2019), which won two BAFTAS and five BIFAs. In 2022, she produced Carol Morley’s Typist Artist Pirate King. Ameenah has completed the reknowned film business and leadership training programme, Inside Pictures. As an independent producer she works across features, shorts and television series, most recently on Virdee (BBC 2025).
‘Cultural IP: Finding Stories and Adapting for Screen’ with Matt Delargy.
The world is abundant with stories… you just have to learn how to tune your antennae to receive them, how to pick the ones that really matter to you, and how to shape them into something unique and commercial. A talk about all of these things ,and more, with time for questions and discussion. Screenwriter and Producer Matt Delargy tells you all you need to know.
'How to get your Feature Film Financed.’ with Tom Harberd
Tom has been involved in financing and producing over 350 feature films, television series and video games. Tom launched Foundry Media in 2023, which in the last year has provided funding to projects such as Grow, a Sky Original movie, Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine ‘36, and Season 1 of Sherlock & Daughter for the CW Network. Prior to this from 2013 to 2021, Tom jointly held the positions of Chief Operating Officer at Head Gear Films, which during that period was one of the UK’s most prolific film finance companies, and Chief Financial Officer at Bankside Films, a prominent film sales agency representing select feature films to the global market.
Who is it for?
This opportunity is open to producers who are ready to make the leap from shorts to features, you may already have a production company or at a stage where you are considering setting up a company for your slate.
Producers should have demonstrated a track record of producing through multiple projects receiving some industry recognition. This could be festival selections, screenings of your work, broadcasts, online releases, articles or reviews. If you are earlier in your career then we encourage you to apply to the Producers Series opening later this year which is more short film and production focused.
You must be based in the Midlands and provide your postcode at the point of application.
You must be over 18 years of age and not in full time education to apply.
How to apply
Applications will close at 23:59 on Tuesday 18th March
If you have any questions about the application or sessions please email bfinetwork@filmhubmidlands.org with ‘Midlands Producers: Next Steps’ in the subject line.
Applicants will be notified of assessment decisions by Thursday 19th March
