Starz and Alliance of Women Directors are expanding their partnership with the launch of the Creative Leadership Lab, a new four-week program designed to help women and gender-expansive directors advance in episodic television.
The initiative targets filmmakers at a key transition point in their careers — after landing an initial episodic directing opportunity but before becoming consistent, repeat hires in the industry. The program will provide leadership development, mentorship and professional tools aimed at helping directors build sustainable careers in television.
The Creative Leadership Lab is part of Starz’s #TakeTheLead initiative, the network’s commitment to amplifying stories by and about women and underrepresented audiences, both on screen and behind the camera.
Through an independent evaluation process, the Alliance of Women Directors will select six participants from its membership. Eligible candidates include directors who have helmed a single episode of television, an independent feature, documentaries or notable short-form, commercial or digital projects and who demonstrate strong creative vision and readiness for episodic leadership.
Participants will take part in mentorship and leadership training designed to strengthen communication skills, on-set authority and other tools necessary to navigate episodic television production.
The program will also extend its reach through a public panel hosted by Starz at the Alliance of Women Directors’ “Back to Set” directing intensive, which returns for its second year.
Applications for the Creative Leadership Lab are expected to open later this month. More information is available through the Alliance of Women Directors’ website.
The announcement comes during Women’s History Month and ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.
English (US) ·