Film and TV Charity's Reel Impact announces first grant awardees

Funding has been awarded to five organisations and eight individuals

By Matthew Corrigan

Published: November 7, 2024

Funding has been awarded to five organisations and eight individuals

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Reel Impact has announced its first round of grants.

Founded to support and uplift mid-senior talent from the Black and Global Majority across the industry, the Film and TV Charity's Reel Impact programme has announced its first grant awardees. Following an overwhelming number of applications from across the UK, the charity has selected the following organisations and individuals:

The organisations receiving grants of up to £25,000 are:

Filmdhit Ltd to help support their growth as the first Black-owned virtual production facility specialising in action content.

Film Locos who will organise networking events and practical masterclasses aiming to boost visibility and access for British Latin American crew in the UK film and TV industry.

The MAMA Youth Project to provide advanced leadership and management training to 10 alumni from underrepresented backgrounds, equipping them skills and providing access to networks.

The TV Collective will drive important conversations and amplify under-represented voices from the Black and Global Majority on a global stage through their industry podcast.

Wonder Women who will recruit core staff and help elevate the careers of mid-senior level women from under-represented and marginalised groups through a nationwide mentoring programme.

Grant funding of up to £10,000 is awarded to these individuals:

Aaqil Ahmed, a mentor and leadership trainer, who is enabling talent from the Black and Global Majority to enhance their careers in film and TV.

Dean Anderson, a director and writer, whose will short film The Mediator', will be taken to the St Louis International Film Festival, helping his diverse cast and crew to access opportunities in both the UK and US film markets.

Georgie Donovan runs Rising Waves, an organisation that tackles the critical underrepresentation of British East and Southeast Asian talent in the arts and media. Their grant will be used for targeted mentorship and to address systemic barriers through workshops, and community events.

Jessica Foucher will be creating a peer group dedicated to advancing practical shooting skills, helping to boost representation behind the lens and empower minority storytellers.

Samantha Fray, a senior leader working in talent development, who will use the grant to enhance her leadership skills and industry connections in the UK's sports broadcasting sector.

Cassie Quarless is ensuring that people from underrepresented backgrounds can navigate new technologies, including AI, that are shaping the film and TV industry,. The grant will help equip underrepresented talent with skills to position them for success in a future shaped by technological developments.

Martin Simms will create a new space for Black and Global Majority creatives in the West Midlands to help tackle the real barriers in the industry around infrastructure, investment, and opportunities.

Chitra Soundararajan will help build a network of Black and Global Majority talent in UK Children's media, helping to bring them closer to new opportunities and employers.

Marcus Ryder, CEO at the Film and TV Charity, said: Reel Impact was launched by the Film and TV Charity to impact the effect of systemic racism and racial inequalities on talent from the Black and Global Majority. It's with great pride that the Charity is announcing its first round of grant partners. The themes coming through underline that no one organisation has the solution to these problems and illustrate the Charity's core belief that the best solutions will always come from those most affected by the issues. Importantly, the Charity's work does not stop with the grants. We see the grantees as partners so, as well as staying in touch with grant recipients to evaluate the success of Reel Impact, we will be engaging with stakeholders within and outside the industry to ensure the programme's sustainability and its contribution to real, much-needed progress.

The decisions were made by an independent grants assessment panel. Applications were scored at each stage, with an intersectional lens based on need, impact, and diversity of approach. The second round of grant applications will open next March.

Information about Reel Impact's grant partners can we found here.

The Film and TV Charity launches fund for Black and Global Majority professionals

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