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Hires, Wins & Business in association withARC
Yarns Reveals Industry Mentors and Production Partners
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03/08/2026
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Paulette Caletti, Florence Poppy Deary, Marta Bobić and Nick Ball join the mentoring scheme supporting 2026 winning filmmakers
Yarns has revealed the acclaimed directors, producers and production partners who will support this year’s four winning filmmakers as they bring NOSTALGIA to life.
Run by Stitch, Yarns is a not-for-profit initiative championing unsigned filmmakers across the UK. Following an exceptional year that saw the programme expand from three winning films to four, each filmmaker will receive creative mentorship alongside production and post-production support from some of the industry’s leading companies and talent.
Sponsors
Yarns is proudly supported by CANADA and Park Pictures, whose backing helps make the competition possible. Renowned for championing exceptional filmmaking talent and producing award-winning work across commercials, film and television, both companies share Yarns’ commitment to nurturing bold new voices and giving emerging directors the opportunity to realise ambitious creative projects.
The Mentors
Each filmmaker has been paired with an experienced mentor who will guide them through every stage of the filmmaking process, from script development and pre-production to the final edit.
Paulette Caletti is a producer and executive producer with over 20 years’ experience across commercials, fashion, branded content and film. She is also an award-winning writer and director, currently developing her first feature, Marriage. Death. Motherhood.
Paulette will mentor Joseph Osayande as he develops Norfolk Dumpling, a poignant folk tale exploring memory, identity and belonging.
“When I read Joseph’s script, it did what the films I love always do. It invited me to experience the world from another person’s perspective. I’m looking forward to supporting him as he brings his story to the screen.”
Florence Poppy Deary is an award-winning director known for her performance direction and dialogue-driven comedy, she seeks to capture life’s bizarre realities through her observational live-action projects and animations. After beginning her career as a creative at Mother London and Wieden+Kennedy, she moved into directing and has since created work for Airalo, Ginsters, Hilton Hotels, Tapi, Channel 4 and DVLA. In 2025 she won Gold for New Director of the Year at shots EMEA, before being named Most Promising Commercial Director at the 2026 Creative Circle Awards.
Florence will mentor Julia Mervis, bringing her distinctive comic voice and visual storytelling to Forgive Me, Furby.
“Yarns is a fantastic competition, wildly helpful for anyone looking to explore or sharpen their directorial tools. Julia is an absolute legend and a force to be reckoned with.”
Marta Bobić is UK managing director, partner and executive producer at CANADA, one of this year’s sponsors. Since joining the company in 2015, she has played a key role in growing CANADA’s UK presence while championing exceptional directing talent and developing stories that resonate with audiences.
Marta returns to Yarns to mentor Aleah Scott on Passenger Seat.
“I am delighted to be back again as a mentor for Yarns. The level of work every year is consistently impressive – the team really knows how to find and nurture talented directors and support projects with real potential. I loved reading Aleah’s short Passenger Seat. The quality of her writing is impressive and her idea feels incredibly relevant. I’m excited to support Aleah during the development and production of her film and see this year’s collection of films come to life.”
Nick Ball is a multiple award-winning director whose work is renowned for its cinematic craft, razor-sharp comedy and unforgettable performances. His films have been recognised by Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, British Arrows, AICP, The Clios and CICLOPE.
Nick will mentor Heath Virgoe, lending his expertise in cinematic comedy to Cock-A-Doodle-Do!
“I’m very excited to mentor Heath through this year’s Yarns competition, largely because their script refuses to behave itself in the best possible way. Beneath ‘Cock-A-Doodle-Do!’s wonderfully absurd premise is a genuinely sharp piece of writing about nostalgia, dysphoria, and the parts of ourselves we never quite manage to leave behind. That’s a difficult needle to thread in seven pages, and Heath somehow manages to do it with real confidence.”
New Partners Join Yarns
This year, Yarns also welcomes new and returning production partners, further expanding the support available to its winning filmmakers throughout the process.
Returning for another year, Kodak will once again provide the winning filmmakers shooting on film with complimentary film stock and processing, continuing its support of emerging talent and analogue filmmaking.
ARRI Rental joins Yarns to provide equipment support for each production. With more than 30 years’ experience supplying cameras, lenses and grip equipment across commercials, television and feature films, ARRI Rental has supported productions ranging from student films to Oscar-winning features.
Ed Jones, commercial marketing exec shared, “We’re excited to be part of Yarns and to support this year’s winning filmmakers with the equipment and technical expertise they need to bring their ideas to life.”
The Kusp Hub will provide each winning filmmaker with premium access to its platform, helping them build diverse crews, manage productions and connect with underrepresented talent across the creative industries.
Co-founder Amos said, “Competitions like Yarns don’t just fund films – they build community and create opportunities for emerging talent to connect with mentors, collaborators and peers. At The Kusp Hub, we’re committed to extending that support network by helping filmmakers access the diverse talent they need to bring their projects to life. It’s an honour to support a competition that remains committed to discovering fresh voices and giving them the re
Award-winning music supervision agency RESISTER joins Yarns to provide music supervision and support, helping filmmakers shape the soundtracks for their films while connecting them with authentic and diverse music talent.
Thomas Cottrell, head music supervisor shared, “After attending the Yarns screening last year and watching the brilliant films created by the winning unsigned directors, we knew we wanted to get involved. At RESISTER, we’re passionate about supporting emerging talent, whether through our RESISTER Academy or by championing new artists through our music projects. We’re excited to help this year’s winning directors craft the perfect soundtrack and bring their creative visions to life.”
Alongside Homespun and post-partners Freefolk, Coffee & TV, Bubble, 1920vfx and Sine Audio Post, Yarns continues to provide emerging filmmakers with the creative, technical and industry support needed to transform ambitious ideas into completed films.
The four films will premiere at Curzon Soho on 12th November, celebrating a new generation of filmmaking talent.
Hires, Wins & Business in association withARC
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