Description
Her Story, Her Future is a three-month mentorship programme dedicated to supporting and empowering women working in the film industry. Created as a supportive space where experience, knowledge and inspiration can be shared, the programme brings together emerging women filmmakers from Romania with experienced female professionals from the international film industry.
The programme is built around personalised mentorship rather than traditional teaching. It is not a course or workshop: participants work directly with experienced mentors who guide them through the development of their film projects while also supporting their professional and personal growth. The programme aims to create meaningful professional relationships, encourage confidence and leadership, and strengthen the participants' ability to navigate the film industry.
Each edition brings together seven selected participants (mentees) and seven professionals (mentors). During the three-month programme, every participant takes part in four individual mentoring meetings with her assigned mentor, as well as two group sessions focused on shared challenges faced by women in the film industry and on creating a supportive professional community.
The individual mentorship sessions are tailored to the participant's project and professional needs. Depending on the project and mentor's expertise, topics can include screenplay and project development, production solutions, budgeting, casting, locations, film festivals, online distribution, promotion, negotiation, leadership and public speaking. Participants receive personalised feedback and practical guidance designed to help them strengthen their projects and develop the skills needed to move them forward.
The programme also creates opportunities for participants to connect with other women working in cinema and to exchange experiences, challenges and strategies for professional growth. Through group activities and industry events, Her Story, Her Future seeks to foster a supportive network that can continue beyond the formal mentorship period.
The programme culminates in an international online pitch, where each participant presents her film project in English to an international jury of three international film industry professionals. The jury evaluates the projects based on criteria including originality, creativity, potential for success and clarity of presentation.
In addition to the exposure and professional feedback gained through the pitch, the programme awards a β¬1,000 gross prize to the participant whose pitch is selected as the best. Jury members also provide personalised written feedback to the participants following the presentation.
Her Story, Her Future is ultimately more than a mentorship programme: it is a platform for professional development, networking and mutual support, designed to help women strengthen their voices, develop their projects and build sustainable futures in the film industry.
Project website: https://herstoryherfuture.com
Opportunity
Her Story, Her Future offers emerging women filmmakers a unique opportunity to develop their film projects with the guidance of experienced international mentors while becoming part of a growing professional network.
Participants receive:
- Personalized mentorship through one-on-one and group sessions with established film professionals.
- Project development support covering script, production, casting, locations, promotion, distribution, and pitching strategies.
- Professional skills development in leadership, communication, and navigating the film industry.
- Networking opportunities with mentors, fellow participants, and international industry experts.
- International visibility through the programme's final online pitch event.
- Pitching experience and expert feedback from an international jury.
- Funding opportunity, with a β¬1,000 award presented to the best pitch.
- Long-term industry connections that can lead to future collaborations and co-productions.
- Access to an international community of women filmmakers and film professionals committed to supporting diverse voices in cinema.
The programme is designed to strengthen both the creative and professional development of participants, helping them move their projects closer to production while expanding their presence within the international film industry.
