Film Hub North has partnered with the BBC and regional productions to offer shadowing and mentoring for Northern directors.
Northern Directors is a brand new opportunity supporting directors who have a creative track record in short form to take the next steps in their careers. The programme offers up to six directors the chance to shadow on regional productions and receive mentoring support from established directors over the next year. For the first opportunity we will be offering two places on a BBC production based in Manchester.
Forging a career as a director is incredibly challenging and there’s an understanding that a gap exists between BFI NETWORK funding and a sustainable career. This opportunity will give talented directors the experience of being on the set of a high-end TV broadcast production, whilst receiving support and guidance from a director who has already bridged that gap.
Shadowing & Mentoring
The on-set shadowing will be for two weeks on a production shooting in the North. Each of the three productions will offer two shadowing opportunities for a total of six participants. This opportunity is paid at a rate of £1,000 per week. Additional costs including travel and accommodation will also be covered if necessary. We also have financial support available for any access requirements the director may have.
On set, you will shadow the Director during the production, gaining direct exposure to the creative and technical processes involved in bringing scenes to life. The weeks will be non-consecutive, meaning you’ll experience a mix of prep, shoot and post. You will observe how the Director collaborates with cast and crew, manages performance and pacing, and ensures the visual and narrative integrity of each episode. The placement is observational with the opportunity to assist with minor tasks as appropriate.
The mentoring will be delivered over two sessions, with an established director offering a space to ask for guidance on career development, future opportunities, and creative approaches.
Eligibility
This programme is not for brand new directors. It is for directors who already have a clear creative track record and a dedication to building a long-term sustainable career as a director in film and television.
To be eligible for Northern Directors you must:
- Be over 18 and not in full time education
- Be based in the North of England
- Have a strong creative track record that has gained industry recognition. This must be a minimum of two director credits on BIFA or BAFTA qualifying films, or one director credit on a BFI NETWORK funded short. Participants however can’t have already directed an episode of high-end television.
- Be available for the interview dates detailed in the production you apply for
- Be available for the entirety of the shadowing dates detailed in the opportunity you apply for.
Due to the nature of each production there may also be specific eligibility requirements for each opportunity - if you have any questions about eligibility please contact
bfinetwork@filmhubnorth.org.uk.
Production 1
The first production we’re partnering with is a six-part series set in Manchester which centres on a British South Asian Family. The shoot is taking place in Manchester with the shadowing period beginning. There will be two placements, the first will take place during block 1 of shooting across a week in November 2025 and the second during block 2 in January 2026 (exact dates to follow). Both directors will then spend a week shadowing in post-production . The mentors for this opportunity are to be confirmed but the schedule of mentoring will fit around the mentors and participants availability.
We welcome applications from all individuals from minority backgrounds. However, the team is committed to making sure their production authentically reflects their audiences, not just on screen, but behind the scenes too. Therefore, due to the content of the programme and the production team, we are particularly interested in applications from British South Asian directors, and we encourage those to apply
Production 1: Application & Timeline
The timeline for Production 1 is:
Thursday 28 August: Open for applications
Friday 12 September: Applications close
Monday 22 September: Applicants will be notified of decisions
w/c Monday 3 November: First shadowing week for director 1
Early-mid January 2026: First shadowing week for director 2 (exact dates to follow)
TBC: Second shadowing week for both directors
Applications closed.
