ATHENA - UK Film's First Industry Course For Women Film Producers

Initialize Films, in association with BBC Film Network, BritShorts and The Hospital, has announced the UK's first industry standard training programme for women who want to produce short films.

The programme, Athena, is a two-month long course that trains and coaches 10 women to produce a short film. The programme takes place in June and July 2006. Lead Trainer Emily Man said that Athena provided a great opportunity for women to progress in the film world.

"Women face tangible boundaries in the film world and Athena will go a little way to developing the confidence and skills of the next generation of female producers, " she said.

     WOMEN LAGGING BEHIND

The course comes at a time when women film producers still lag behind their male counter-parts in numbers, salary and status. Four years ago, Joan Bakewell, broadcaster and then chair of the British Film Institute, advocated short film training schemes designed for women as a way to help women get their important breakthrough. Athena is one of the first programmes to answer this need.

As well as giving participants guidance from shorts experts, BritShorts and BBC Film Network, all participants will be given temporary membership at The Hospital, one of London's leading private members' clubs for the media set.

"We aim to provide expert advice and contacts so that participants have the right type of platform to take the next step in their careers" said Initialize Head Ian Davies.

The application deadline is May 28 2006.