Screen Yorkshire Launches FLEX

Screen Yorkshire Launches FLEX

UK Creative Development Hub for Agile Storytellers

A ground-breaking development hub for screen talent from across the UK launches today, providing an opportunity for writers, producers and directors to explore story in an inspiring and progressive, platform neutral, space.

Screen Yorkshire has opened applications to its brand-new FLEX programme, developed in collaboration with the Screen Industries Growth Network.

FLEX is a physical and online space for the best of the UK’s emerging creative talent to form agile storytelling partnerships. The programme will support the development of ideas and talent that can hop nimbly between platforms and formats, ready to pitch to the rapidly evolving screen marketplace.

FLEX will support writers, directors and producers to create strongly authored narratives that will continue to build Yorkshire and the Humber as a place of dynamic, authentic and fluid storytelling, fit for 2021 and beyond.

With industry partnership embedded into the programme, FLEX will run over six months from September 2021 and offer a carefully curated development opportunity for each creative team including as appropriate; ideation workshops, story testing sessions, writers’ rooms, script development support, mentoring, access to key industry figures and pitching opportunities. Creative teams will also be offered bursaries to support the development process.

Applications to Flex are open to writers, directors and producers to apply as individuals, writers may also apply as a writing duo. A minimum of one member of the creative team will be from Yorkshire and the Humber.

Screen Yorkshire is keen to encourage applications from those who may not have followed a traditional route into the screen industries or faced additional challenges accessing support and opportunities. Its fundamental goal is to work with talent that is inspired by the creative freedom afforded by FLEX and ready to innovate, to connect diverse stories with new audiences.

FLEX is designed to inspire and innovate, disrupt and challenge, and develop future proofed stories for a wide spectrum of audiences. The programme is being delivered by Screen Yorkshire and has been developed with the Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN), a unique, business-facing initiative supporting the TV, film and games industries in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Application page

The way we consume and watch stories is changing; we no longer need a scheduled slot to get our viewing fix. Technology and audiences are fundamentally altering the way we make and enjoy content. To embrace this monumental shift, it's vital we inspire and challenge existing, as well as emerging, talent to stay ahead of the curve. We need to adapt to changes in the industry and deliver stories that audiences are hungry for. FLEX is our innovative, ground-breaking response to this rapidly changing space.

Jo Schofield, Talent Development Manager at Screen Yorkshire

It’s fantastic Screen Yorkshire have created such an innovative development hub championing the full diversity of talent in our region. We think Flex provides a fabulous and much needed opportunity and with its format agnostic approach, will help future proof the next generation of Industry professionals in our region.

Producer Bekki Wray-Rogers, Co-Founder of Leeds based production company Duck Soup

Our partners

Flex is being delivered by Screen Yorkshire and has been developed with the Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN), a unique, business-facing initiative supporting the TV, film and games industries in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Our talent development team

  • Jo Schofield

    Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive

    Jo oversees Screen Yorkshire’s FLEX and ScriptEd talent development programmes and looks after The Insight New Producer Programme, that Screen Yorkshire delivers on behalf of BFI Net.work. Jo also supports Caroline to run the Yorkshire Content Fund, a public-private investment fund for the TV, film, video games and digital sectors in Yorkshire and Humber, open to producers either based in Yorkshire or wishing to film or establish a base in the region.