When it comes to getting into film making it can be incredibly difficult to know where to start, let alone open a door to a career in film.

To remove the barriers for young people seeking a career in film, EE has launched ‘Set The Stage’, a groundbreaking programme to nurture young talent.

In collaboration with BAFTA, the initiative will provide talented teenage filmmakers the opportunity to produce a short film. The film-makers will be mentored by actress Daisy Edgar-Jones and award-winning industry professionals across storytelling, production, cinematography, costume design and direction.  

The experts that will be mentoring the teens include international Cinematographer, Kit Fraser and Award-Winning Producer, Rochelle Newman and Storyteller, Lauren Sequeira.

Artistic Lead, Paix Robinson, who is also a mentor for the program, shared the importance of making space for the next generation of talent. He explained: “Through EE’s ‘Set The Stage’, I hope I can help inspire the filmmakers to push their artistic boundaries, and think beyond convention. It's so important to provide opportunities for the next generation as they’ll be creating the films of the future.” 

The teens, who all submitted an entry to take part in the campaign, were chosen based on their relevant skills, personal passion and curiosity, willingness to collaborate and the ability to deal with a long shoot, and how these could be supported through this programme. The young filmmakers will now take part in an immersive training programme run by the Young Film Academy (YFA), which will see them work together to craft their short film, which is set to premiere next year.  

The campaign comes off the back of EE research that reveals a generational divide on career perceptions, showing a disconnect between parents and teens. Through the project, EE will showcase the breadth of creative careers in the screen industries, demonstrating how teenagers can translate the soft and hard skills they have learned through engaging with social media, gaming and technology into a successful career in the film industry.  

Later this summer, participating teens will take their filmmaking experience to the next level during an eight-day residency. They will bring their projects to life, as they run a full production shoot and put their new skills to the test in their first steps into a future career. 

The filmmaking will be supported by technology partner, Samsung UK. The teens received a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, an S24, and Buds3 to help them document their journey and ensure they have the right equipment for capturing content. 

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE, said: “EE is dedicated to unleashing learning from the classroom and demonstrating how technology can inspire young minds and present new opportunities. Through EE’s ‘Set The Stage’, we are proud to be guiding this group of talented young filmmakers through the process of making a real film, demonstrating how they can turn their interests and passions into a profession.” 

Lisa Prime, Head of Children and Young People’s Programme at BAFTA, added: “At BAFTA, we aim to ignite the passion of young creatives, encouraging them to explore the variety of careers on offer in the screen industries. We're thrilled to work with EE on the launch of 'Set The Stage' and see the opportunities it offers to the filmmakers involved. Cultivating emerging talent and establishing a future generation of storytellers is essential for the longevity of our industry." 

The project is part of the brand’s EE Learn drive, an educational initiative designed to fuel teen passions by harnessing the power of technology to elevate their future opportunities. PR for the campaign was handled by Edelman.