06/08/2013 - Mentors include John Madden, Peter Straughan, Nira Park

Lighthouse, Creative Skillset and the Irish Film Board have announced the mentors and mentees for the 2013 edition of Guiding Lights, the annual mentoring scheme. Director mentors include Oliver Parker (St Trinian’s), John Madden (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Joanna Hogg (Archipelago [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), and Lenny Abrahamson (Garage [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ed Guiney
interview: Jean-François Deveau
interview: Lenny Abrahamson
film profile]).  Writer mentors include Will Davies (Johnny English Reborn [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), and Lucinda Coxon (The Crimson Petal And The White). Producer mentors are Nira Park (Shaun Of The Dead), Andrea Calderwood (The Last King of Scotland [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), and Robyn Slovo (Morvern Callar [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

The 2013 mentees are directors Afarin Eghbal, Laura Smith, Andrew Lang, Henry Darke and Carmel Winters; writers Andy Yerlett, Lucy Moore, Martin Wallace and Thomas Martin; and producers Jessica Levick, Rob Watson and Alexa Seligman. Each mentor is paired with a mentee and works with them over a nine month period.

Guiding Lights patron Alison Thompson, co-president of Focus Features International said, “During the four years that I’ve been involved with Guiding Lights, first as a mentor and now as patron, a hugely impressive line-up of professionals have generously given their time to the scheme, including Sam Mendes, Danny Boyle, Lone Scherfig, Kenneth Branagh, Paul Greengrass, Graham Broadbent, Abi Morgan, Tim Bevan, Christopher Hampton and James Marsh. The standard of the selected participants continues to rise, and we’re delighted to have been able to lure the same calibre of industry talent on board for 2013.” 

The scheme is sponsored by Studiocanal.