Diverse Directors Workshop
Investing in the Future of Screen Directing
For almost a decade, the NFTS has been developing outstanding directing talent from under-represented backgrounds, helping ensure the screen industries benefit from a broader range of creative voices.
Designed to remove systemic barriers and open doors, the Diverse Directors Workshop provides six emerging directors with world-class training, industry mentoring and the opportunity to create a professionally produced short film, often becoming the calling card that launches their directing career, actively providing the change and training the talented diverse directors the industry needs.
The National Film and Television School’s groundbreaking Diverse Directors Workshop has successfully helped more than 40 talented creatives take their next step into professional filmmaking. The programme has become a proven pathway for discovering exceptional directors, and the NFTS is immensely proud of the impact it has made to date.
The industry continues to make progress in improving representation behind the camera, but talented filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds still face significant barriers to entry. Access to specialist training, funding, professional networks and industry opportunities can all feel far out of reach.
The Diverse Directors Workshop exists to help change that – creating a direct pathway from emerging talent to establishing careers as working directors.
Key Alumni Highlights
John Ogunmuyiwa
Director of Comedy Central: Dating Horror Stories, and Champion.
Key Alumni Highlights
Alice Seabright
Recent directing credits include: Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Amadeus, Say Nothing, Chloe and Sex Education.
Key Alumni Highlights
Naz Khammal
2nd Unit Director of Gangs of London, Director of World of Tanks commercials, and working on commercials and music videos while developing a feature and TV series.
Pictured:the poster from Naz's film at the NFTS, See It, Say It, which was nominated for Best Short Film at the BFI International Short Film Festival, and nominated for the Narrative Short award at the SXSW Festival.
Key Alumni Highlights
Annetta Lauder
Recent directing credits include: The Forsytes, Get Millie Black, and Doctor Who
Key Alumni Highlights
Osman Arshad
Recent credits include: House Of The Dragon, Waterloo Road,
and Black Ops Series 2
Key Alumni Highlights
Sophie King
Director of TV Series The Way Back: Turkiye, Buffering and Disability Benefits.
Key Alumni Highlights
Nichola Wong
Industry credits include Silent Witness, Bite Size Halloween, Hollyoaks, Towards Zero, Crossfire and Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series.
Alumni Success
Over the past decade, alumni of the Diverse Directors Workshop have gone on to direct major television dramas, high profile streaming productions, award winning shorts and commercial work, while others have become sought-after writers, editors and creatives across every corner of the screen industries.
Festival and Commercial Success
Films made on the Diverse Directors Workshop have enjoyed huge success on the worldwide festival circuit, including selections at the BFI London Film Festival, Encounters, SXSW, Leeds International Film Festival and Aesthetica Short Film Festival. Others shorts were selected as prestigious Vimeo Staff picks, acquired by Canal +, secured partial funding from the BFI to finance future projects while multiple directors secured agent representation after industry showcases were held.
