The BFI Network talent team is back with a fresh new partnership to find and nurture Northern voices this year.

For 5 months from September-December 2016, five bold writers will be supported in this 3-minute teaser program that challenges them through the development of their characters while they explore all aspects involved, including creating scripts/ pilots as well crafting marketing materials such as allocated pitch decks for TV shows or films.

Unique and unexpected

Scratch Me will be searching for unique, unexpected, flawed and captivating characters connected to the North with fresh perspectives and free of clichés or tropes; characters with the potential to lead a TV series, feature film or web series.

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Film Hub North will partner the selected writers with a local production company and an exciting emerging TV director to turn their scripts into short scratch films. 

Seeking collaborators

Northern-based writers of any level of experience, from any genre and from any background over the age of 18 are invited to apply with applications opening on 14 April 2022 and closing on 23 May 2022 (noon). The programme will run from July 2022 to November 2022.

Film Hub North’s Talent Executive Roxy McKenna said: 

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“We are really excited to be partnering up with Fulwell 73 to find the most exciting new northern talent and help bring them to the screen. It has never felt a more important time to be championing and nurturing Northern talent with production booming and audiences craving diverse and bold new voices.”

Leo Pearlman, one of Fulwell73’s partners, added:

“It’s a genuine honour to be partnering with Film Hub North on that most important of creative endeavours, the search for and discovery of the next generation of talent! And not just any talent, but talent from the land that TV has tried in recent years to forget, the North. With this programme the aim as ever is to discover unique, brilliant, brave new writers, writers who we hope to see heavily involved in the success of the industry for many years to come.”

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Scratch Me will also deliver a public programme of online events featuring top industry talent to discuss the process of character development and the craft of film and TV to further support aspiring, emerging or experienced writers out there. Last year’s programme featured stand-up star Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal); writer and performer Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, The League of Gentleman); casting director Heather Basten (The End of the F***ing World); and director Francis Lee (God’s Own Country, Ammonite); this year’s full programme will be announced soon and will be in partnership with Northern Film + Media.