Netflix invests $478,000 to support diverse new UK talent

Anne Mensah

Netflix has announced plans to invest £350,000 (USD $478,000) to help create opportunities for young and up-and-coming Black creators in the UK to break into screen production.

The investment will support 30 year-long scholarships for students at Femi Oguns’ London drama school, Identity School of Acting, as well as double the number of young people involved with youth-led media organisation Million Youth Media and also help the Mama Youth initiative to train more young people for broadcast and media roles.

The grant comes as part of the $5million fund that Netflix set up last year and also follows its more recent UK Documentary Talent Fund.

“Great stories help build empathy, connecting us to people and places we’d otherwise never know about or understand. But great stories are not enough if they only come through one lens, reflect one experience or embody one type of journey through life. At Netflix we believe in stories from everywhere for everyone and we are determined to help realise that ambition fully.” Commented Anne Mensah, VP of UK Original series for Netflix.

“I believe the UK industry is changing. And although this change is slow, the wealth of young diverse British voices fighting their way to the top of the industry fills me with hope and excitement,” continued Mensah, adding that Netflix was committed to doing more to supporting the current generation of British talent, as well as developing a more inclusive pipeline of upcoming creatives.

The announcement comes just days after Netflix revealed the results of its first-ever global inclusion report.