How do you build a film career when you don’t have industry connections?

Our ‘How do you build a film career when you don’t have industry connections?’ session took place online on Tuesday 10th February 2026. The presentation from this session can be found, below. This page will be updated with new content on how to develop your film career as it becomes available.

The talk offers practical ways to make progress: building visible work, forming genuine creative relationships, and measuring success.

In this talk, short filmmaker Isaac Raymond breaks down the realities of a “who you know” industry, why film remains difficult to access without privilege, how passion is often weaponised into pressure and burnout, and what needs to change to make the industry fairer and more sustainable. Drawing on real-world experience, the talk offers practical ways to make progress without waiting for permission: building visible work, forming genuine creative relationships, and measuring success by momentum rather than status. An honest, grounded look at surviving and progressing in film without the safety net.

Isaac’s Talk | Q&A

How to Improve Skills with a Low Budget

Isaac’s Top Two Tips to Get Started

How to Get Actors for Your Film

Isaac’s Film ‘Purr’ Overview

Presentation Highlights

– Use every video to develop a skill

– Be consistent in what you do. It’s a marathon not a race.

– Use professional organisations and connections to give you an authority boost.

References

Official UK Film Industry Mentoring & Development Programs

BFI NETWORK & BAFTA Mentoring Programme

Bespoke one‑to‑one mentoring for UK‑based writers, directors and producers working on their first feature, TV pilot or online commission, paired with senior industry mentors and offering networking, career coaching and festival accreditation opportunities. (Bafta)

ScreenSkills Mentoring Network

Industry‑wide mentoring support, matching mentors to mentees across film and TV. It’s designed to help people:

Enter the film industry
Progress existing careers
Transition into new roles
Return after a career break
ScreenSkills also publishes mentoring resources (guidance for mentors and mentees). (ScreenSkills)

Media Trust & ScreenSkills Mentoring Programmes

Programmes matching mentors with mentees at different career stages, especially targeting under‑represented talent and providing career guidance, portfolio development tasks and one‑to‑one mentoring. (Media Trust)

Film London Connect Mentoring Initiative

Part of Film London’s skills and development work, providing mentorship support tied to industry knowledge and career progression (alongside networking and training). (Film London)

ScreenSkills Trainee Finder

A UK‑wide entry‑level placement and training programme that prepares trainees to work on real film and high‑end TV productions across departments like camera, sound, art, hair & make‑up, production office and more. (ScreenSkills)

ScreenSkills Training & Bursaries

ScreenSkills offers a range of training, workshops, e‑learning, masterclasses and bursaries that support skills development across film, TV, animation and VFX, from fundamental e‑learning modules to role‑specific training credits. (ScreenSkills)

BFI Film Academy (Training Courses & Hubs)

UK‑wide skills training for young people (usually aged 16–25) to learn technical and creative skills in areas such as production, camera, editing, VFX, animation and distribution. Film Academy Hubs also provide career advice and networking support. (BFI)

BFI Future Film Festival (Workshops & Masterclasses)

Although a festival, the programme is a major UK training platform for young filmmakers with workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities designed to help people break into the industry. (Wikipedia)

Creative Access – Mentoring & Career Support

Creative Access runs mentoring programmes for candidates from historically under‑represented backgrounds, offering career support, paid internships/traineeships, networking events and professional development for roles across the creative industries, including film and TV.

I was lucky enough to be mentored by BAFTA-winning producer Emily Morgan through this platform for 6 months.

(Creative Access)

Industry Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Various UK broadcasters and studios (e.g., BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Sky, NFTS‑linked traineeships) offer apprenticeships and trainee schemes across production, post‑production and technical roles, combining on‑the‑job training with structured skills development. (ScreenSkills)

Independent Film Trust – Training & Mentoring

Independent Film Trust Address: 9 Collier Rd, Cambridge, CB1 2AH, United Kingdom Phone: +442074302696

A charity providing film training and mentoring for creative producers and emerging filmmakers, alongside development workshops and career support. (Wikipedia)

Arts Emergency – Mentoring & Advice

Arts Emergency Address: Arts Emergency, Unit W3, 8 Woodberry Down, London N4 2TG, United Kingdom Phone: +44 20 7683 1077

Offers mentoring, coaching and broad creative career guidance useful to aspiring filmmakers and screen creatives, especially those aged 16–26 from under‑represented backgrounds. (Wikipedia)

Local & Regional Mentoring Initiatives

Many UK Film Academy hubs and regional film bodies (e.g., Film Hub Midlands) run mentoring, script development and professional support schemes linked to BFI NETWORK and other funding partners. (Film Hub Midlands)

Tips for Finding & Applying

Most programmes have annual application windows with fixed deadlines. Check their official websites for up‑to‑date calls.
Some schemes (like ScreenSkills Trainee‑Finder or Creative Access internships) may require eligibility checks (e.g., residency, under‑represented backgrounds, skill stage).
Industry bodies like ScreenSkills, BFI and BAFTA often publish newsletters outlining the latest mentoring/training opportunities.

REFERENCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Isaac’s Award-Winning BFI Network Best Film 2022: ‘Purr’

Mandy Network | The #1 jobs platform for cast, crew and creative professionals: https://www.mandy.com/