Championing LGBTQIA+ stories through mentoring

Interviews by Ella Gauci

A decade ago, it was still a rarity to see many LGBTQIA+ stories on screen. Now, we’re witnessing a renaissance in queer filmmaking, acting and screenwriting in real time. This shift doesn’t happen in a vacuum though; it’s the tireless work of passionate creatives that has spearheaded this movement. One such group of creatives that are coming together and opening the door for this change are those involved in the BFI NETWORK & BAFTA Mentoring programme.

For the past ten years, the BFI NETWORK & BAFTA Mentoring programme, in partnership with BFI Flare and made possible thanks to National Lottery funding, has supported LGBTQIA+ creatives to launch their careers. With a commitment to inclusion at its core, the programme has supported 54 UK-based writers, directors and producers through tailored mentoring from BAFTA members and wider industry, alongside wellbeing coaching. It’s become a vital platform for fostering a community of new voices whose stories desperately need to be told.

Mentoring is a collaborative professional development relationship that doesn’t just offer guidance – it creates space for confidence, community, and bold creativity to thrive. Here some of our previous mentees talk about the powerful impact the experience has had on them…

Something that many who have been through the BFI NETWORK & BAFTA Mentoring programme agree on is that the mentoring they received helped build confidence.

Charlie Tidmas, an alum from the programme’s 2024 cohort explains: “It sounds cheesy, but one of the biggest takeaways I’ve got from the Mentoring Programme is confidence, both as a professional in the industry and as a trans man refining my voice as a writer-director.

“Confidence is something I’ve always struggled with, like a lot of people in the industry, and having your heroes turn around and tell you that you’re doing alright is huge. I feel so much more assured in my voice as a creative, in what I want to do, and how I want to go about it.”

Having the opportunity of brainstorming and learning how to break into the industry from those who have already done it can be invaluable. Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, part of the 2023 cohort, describes talking with directors like Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) and Kibwe Tavares (The Kitchen) as affirming and a powerful driver to keep going.

Feyiṣayọ says: “Getting that advice from different experiences was really helpful in keeping the faith alive.

“It helped keep alive the patience you need when you’re creating films or going down the journey of filmmaking. Being able to speak with the mentors was very affirming for the work I’m trying to do.”

Through the mentoring experience mentees have also been spurred on by the encouragement they receive along the way to keep pursuing stories that resonate with them.

Ed Cripps, part of the 2019 cohort, says “It gave me the encouragement I needed to really go for it with the stories I wanted to tell. At the beginning of the programme, I came to BFI Flare Festival with the kernel of an idea that went on to become a queer horror feature that’s since gone into development with ace producers and beyond.

“Later on, I stuck to my guns when outside voices pushed me not to ‘pigeonhole’ myself and wrote an unapologetically gay, genre-bending TV pilot that opened a tonne of doors for me. When I had my first mentor meeting with Charlie Covell, they really responded to my latest script and generously shared it with their producers.”

Fostering community is one of the core elements that makes the mentoring programme so special. Georgi Banks-Davies, 2018 alum and BAFTA-winning director (I Hate Suzie and currently directing the second series of The Night Manager), says being able to connect with other LGBTQIA+ filmmakers was an experience like no other.

Banks-Davies reflects: “The most beautiful, positive and affecting part of the scheme for me was the meeting of my fellow cohorts and the alumni.

“Suddenly, my network of filmmakers opened up to the most incredible voices. We’re all different types of storytellers, from very different walks of life – but we are united in shared values. The support for one another comes with genuine love and passion to help one another.”

The last decade has seen a fundamental shift in the industry for queer talent. LGBTQIA+ representation in 2015 was rising steadily, but while hits like Carol and The Danish Girl were making a splash, queer filmmakers and actors were still struggling to be heard. There were small pockets of hope, like the BAFTA-winning film Pride by Stephen Beresford but, overall, LGBTQIA+ visibility was low.

In 2015 only 17.5% of films released contained LGBTQIA+ characters. Now, 10 years on, more LGBTQIA+ creatives are breaking through, whether on blockbuster films or independent projects, and audiences are increasingly hungry for these stories. Festivals like BFI Flare are seeing growing interest, with half of 2025’s attendees being new to the festival. Meanwhile, on TV, LGBTQIA+ characters now make up over a third of on-screen roles.

But while representation is increasing, there’s still a long way to go. Visibility on screen doesn’t always mean meaningful inclusion behind it. And that’s why programmes like BFI NETWORK & BAFTA Mentoring programme, in partnership with BFI Flare have been so important. Not just for the role they play in increasing LGBTQIA+ presence on screen, but for empowering queer storytellers to shape the stories being told.

As Cassandra Neal, new talent and industry manager at BAFTA, explains: “This programme was built to recognise the extraordinary talent within the LGBTQIA+ community and make space for it to grow. Over the past decade, we’ve seen time and again how powerful mentoring can be, not just in launching careers, but in building confidence, community, and lasting change.”

The partnership between BAFTA, BFI NETWORK and BFI Flare showcases the power of collaboration in supporting new voices. Bringing together the mentoring, wellbeing coaching and networking from BAFTA with the iconic BFI Flare festival fosters a platform like no other.

Creating an inclusive environment is paramount to BAFTA, especially given that 14% of its members are LGBTQIA+, 17% come from underrepresented groups and nearly a fifth come from low socio-economic backgrounds. With every mentor-mentee connection, BAFTA is helping build a more inclusive industry and a stronger future for storytelling.