Reel Impact announces first round of Grant Awardees

The Film and TV Charity’s Reel Impact program has proudly announced its first round of grant awardees, chosen from a remarkable pool of applicants who highlighted systemic barriers faced by Black and Global Majority talent in the film and TV industry. Five organisations and eight individuals will receive funding aimed at advancing mid-to-senior-level careers and making an impact on inclusivity and diversity in UK film and TV.

Organisational Grant Recipients

The following five organisations have each received grants of up to £25,000 to support their transformative projects: 

• Filmdhit Ltd who received funding to help support their growth as the first Black-owned virtual production facility specialising in action content. 
• Film Locos who will organise networking events and practical masterclasses with the aim of boosting visibility and access for British Latin American crew in the UK film and TV industry, showcasing their contributions and potential. 
• The MAMA Youth Project who will use the grant to provide advanced leadership and management training to 10 alumni from underrepresented backgrounds, equipping them with the skills and networks necessary to break barriers and ascend to senior roles in the TV and media industry. 
• The TV Collective will use Reel Impact’s support to drive important conversations and amplify under-represented voices from the Black and Global Majority on a global stage through the development of their industry podcast platform. 
• Wonder Women who will be using the fund to recruit core staff and help elevate the careers of mid-senior level women from under-represented and marginalised groups through the organisation’s year-long, nationwide mentoring programme. 

Individual Grant Recipients

Eight individuals have been awarded grants of up to £10,000 each to advance their unique initiatives: 

• Aaqil Ahmed, a mentor and leadership trainer, who will use the grant to enable talent from the Black and Global Majority to enhance their careers in film and TV. 
• Dean Leon Anderson, a director and writer, who will use the grant to take his short film ​‘The Mediator’, to the St Louis International Film Festival, helping his diverse cast and crew to access opportunities in both the UK and US film markets. 
• Georgie Donovan runs Rising Waves, an organisation that tackles the critical underrepresentation of British East and Southeast Asian talent in the arts and media. Their grant will be used for targeted mentorship and to address systemic barriers through workshops, and community events. 
• Jessica Foucher will use the grant to create a peer group dedicated to advancing practical shooting skills, helping to boost representation behind the lens and empower a new cohort of minority storytellers. 
• Samantha Fray, a senior leader working in Talent Development, who will use the grant to enhance her leadership skills and industry connections for UK’s sports broadcasting sector. 
• Cassie Quarless is ensuring that people from underrepresented backgrounds can navigate new technologies, including AI, that are shaping the film and TV industry. Quarless will use the grant to help equip underrepresented talent with cutting-edge skills, positioning them for success in an ever-changing future shaped by technological developments.
• Martin Simms will create a new space for Black and Global Majority creatives in the West Midlands to help tackle the real barriers in the industry around infrastructure, investment, and opportunities. 
• Chitra Soundararajan who will help build a network of Black and Global Majority talent in UK Children’s media, helping to bring them closer to new opportunities and employers. 

Grant Assessment Process

The independent panel assessed applications with a focus on need, impact, and diversity. Themes emerging from the applications included access to training, career progression, visibility, economic equality, and addressing stereotypes, all essential to driving inclusivity across the film and TV industry.

Reel Impact’s Commitment to Change

Ryder added, ​“The themes coming through underline that no one organisation has the solution to these problems and illustrate the Charity’s core belief that the best solutions will always come from those most affected by the issues. Importantly, the Charity’s work does not stop with the grants. We see the grantees as partners so, as well as staying in touch with grant recipients to evaluate the success of Reel Impact, we will be engaging with stakeholders within and outside the industry to ensure the programme’s sustainability and its contribution to real, much-needed progress.”

Second Round of Reel Impact Grants: Applications Open March 2025

Reel Impact will open a second round of applications in March 2025. With Jake Ferguson as the new Director of Business Development, the Charity will develop strategic funding partnerships to ensure sustainability and maximise the program’s positive impact on Black and Global Majority talent.