Sir Horace Ové, the pioneering filmmaker nicknamed the Godfather of Black British filmmaking, has had a $57,000 Film and TV Charity grant named after him to help people from ethnic minority backgrounds navigate their way through the industry.
The Sir Horace Ové Grant launches next month and will aid in areas such as funding development courses, childcare, travel costs, equipment upgrades and membership or subscriptions to professional bodies. The grant application will require applicants to submit an impact statement explaining how the grant will help them in their career.
People from ethnic minority backgrounds can apply for grants of up to £500 ($577) from the fund, which has been named after the man dubbed the Godfather of Black British filmmaking, who directed the first Black British feature You can’t go wrong with pressure In 1976, he was appointed to the helm of the company’s largest shareholder. Playing Away Babylon’s Hole Ové, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, was knighted last year.
It comes more than one-and a half years after the charity had committed to making sure that 30% of its grants were allocated to people who are ethnic minority. The charity failed to reach this target by 8% last fiscal year, so it has refilled the fund.
“Breaking down barriers was always at the heart of what Horace did, to educate and open doors, especially to Black and ethnic communities and populations,” said Ové’s daughter, the actor Indra Ové. “The Ové family is extremely proud that Black and Global Majority talent working behind the scenes today will receive support in his name to allow them to follow in his inspirational footsteps.”
Alex Pumfrey from the Film and TV Charity added: “The Film and TV Charity is committed to help improve diversity and inclusion in the film, TV, and cinema industry, just as we are committed to concentrating resource where it is most needed or where barriers are steepest. We hope that the new Sir Horace Ové Grant is able to contribute to both of those aims and we are so proud to honour such an important industry figure in the process.”