Yarns reveals a box office line-up of mentors
Yarns has unveiled the four mentors that will guide this year’s finalists through the competition.
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As with previous years, each Yarns finalist has been partnered with an established director or producer.
Navigating everything from script development to post-production, the mentors will help each finalist to create the best possible short film. With some of the biggest names in the business getting involved, the line-up of returning mentors is raring to go for another year.
Stitch/Homespun co-owner Tim Hardy comments, "We are delighted to welcome back our amazing mentors for another year of Yarns. Each of them is an industry powerhouse, with wins at BAFTA, Cannes Lions and British Arrows to name but a few. Our young filmmakers are already working hard shooting their films, and getting to work alongside such a talented group of mentors is an experience I know they won’t forget!”
The mentors for Yarns are:
A former Senior Creative and Director at Channel 4’s award-winning 4Creative, McCarthy is a masterful visual storyteller, with a distinctive style that combines stunning cinematography and a wry sense of humour. His work for C4’s The Grand National’struck a chord globally, and recent collaborations have brought wins and nominations at BAFTA, D&AD, British Arrows, Cannes Lions and Creative Circle.
McCarthy was also a mentor on last year’s winning Yarns film, Emma Parkinson’s Dishes, Dishes, Dishes. This year, he will be working alongside director Holly Hunter on her film Banana Boat, cut by Homespun editor Laura Zvarikova.
McCarthy comments “Mentoring a Yarns finalist is always a brilliant experience, and I feel very lucky that I’ve been asked back for another year. Getting the chance to be involved with one of the best independent short film competitions in the UK is a special thing, but it’s also great to learn a few things from the amazing talent that has made it through to the final. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully continue the winning streak!”
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Managing Director at CANADA London, Bobic has spent most of the past decade exploring different sides of the production and agency landscape. Joining the CANADA family in 2015, Bobic has since helped to bring an expanding roster of directors to British shores. Returning for a second stint as a Yarns mentor, Bobic will be working alongside Juliet Klottrup on her film Travelling Home. The short will be edited by Luke Anderson, who cut last year’s winning film Dishes, Dishes, Dishes.
Bobic states: “I’m so excited to be returning as a Yarns mentor for a second time. It’s a real honour to help support talented filmmakers and I can’t wait to see Juliet’s vision come to life.”
Bobic continues “I've always admired Yarns and its mission to support new talent, not to mention watching the great films that are produced each year. It's such an important project for bringing new voices and ideas to our industry, so I can’t wait to see what gets produced this year."
Alabi is a director and photographer who bridges the gap between African and Western markets. Creating everything from music videos to advertising campaigns, he is also a co-founder of Lagos-based creative production company JM Films. Signed in the UK to Ridley Scott's RSA Films, Alabi’s recent work includes music videos for Stormzy Hide & Seek and Wizkid ft Burna Boy Ginger, as well as campaigns for Disney, Fanta, Guinness, KFC, and more. He will be working alongside Tom Gentle and Sam Brain on their film Do You Have Kids, to be cut by Homespun editor Chris Hutchings.
Alabi comments: "It's my pleasure to be working with Yarns again, especially when the filmmakers are as talented as Tom and Sam. Yarns is a unique opportunity for young directors to get their start, and their short has both an amazing idea and script. To be collaborating with a writer and director has been an awesome experience, and hopefully we’ll see more of these competitions that help filmmakers of all types get their ideas out there!”
Doff is an award-winning director whose body of work spans music videos, commercials, and feature film. Doff is celebrated for his cinematic approach, intertwining comedy with the surreal. Previously winning Music Video Director of the Year at the MVAs for his infamous Run the Jewels promo Love Again, he has since created a string of blockbuster commercials for brands such as Apple, McDonald’s, Three, Ikea and Sainsbury’s. Doff's debut feature Get Duked earned the SXSW Audience Prize, and he will be lending his vast experience to Doug Redfern and Joe Roberts on their film Mr. Biscuit.
The film will be cut by Homespun editor Laura Reyes, with Doff stating “I'm super happy to be mentoring at Yarns again. It's such a great opportunity for new directors. Doug and Joe wrote a great script and can't wait to see how it turns out and hopefully I'm of some help along the way!"
As well as the support from their mentors, Yarns sees the aspiring directors’ partner with some of the industry’s foremost talent to create their film. The finalists will benefit from experts across production and post, including sponsors Kodak and Slingshot Intergalactic, as well as post-production partners Freefolk, nineteentwenty, Absolute and Sine.
Homespun co-owner Leo King states “We’re delighted that our finalists will again have some of the best in the business working on their films. From post to sound, our finalists have always worked with the best up-and-coming talent from across the industry. It’s long been a cornerstone of the Yarns mission, and we’re very proud to say that this will be the case again this year. We can’t wait to see Yarns give a platform to another cohort of talented people.”
