Mentor LA Program 2016 from Australians in Film on Vimeo.
Up and coming talent Sarah Shaw, Josh Tanner, Felicity Abbott and Breanna Roe have been announced as the recipients of Australians in Film and Screen Australia’s one year MentorLA program.
The MentorLA program matches recipients with dedicated mentors who work in the US, giving them the opportunity to gain international industry knowledge.
The program aims to acknowledge Australian talent and the potential it has to build a strong, commercially sustainable and internationally focused Australian screen industry.
Producer Bruna Papandrea (Gone Girl, Wild) is set to mentor Shaw; while writer/director Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral) will mentor Tanner.
Emmy award-winning production designer Deborah Riley’s (Game of Thrones) mentee is Abbott, and president, unscripted television at Endemol Shine USA Eden Gaha (Master Chef, The Biggest Loser) will work with Roe.
President of AiF Kate Marks said the response received from the industry to the MentorLA program was extraordinary.
“It indicates there is a real need for investment in and support of practitioners at all levels of our industry,” said Marks.
“We are enormously grateful for the support of Screen Australia, to the high calibre of applicants and the generosity of the mentors, who are providing such invaluable knowledge and experience.”
Screen Australia’s head of business and audience Richard Harris said: “The MentorLA program is a fantastic, potentially career-changing, initiative for Australian screen practitioners. It aligns with Screen Australia’s engagement with and support of Australia’s creative talent on the international stage.
“It has often been said that talent drives our business, and Screen Australia is incredibly proud to able to support these talented practitioners to be mentored by some of the best names working in Hollywood today.”