​​Viggo Mortensen At Glasgow Film Festival; Sean Connery Talent Lab; BFI’s Good Work Programme — Global Briefs 

​​Viggo Mortensen To Attend Glasgow Film Festival 

Filmmaker ​​Viggo Mortensen is among the guests set to attend this year’s Glasgow Film Festival. Mortensen will take part in a live ‘In Conversation’ session at Glasgow where he will discuss his life and career followed by the UK premiere of his new Western The Dead Don’t Hurt. The film stars Mortensen alongside Vicky Krieps, Danny Huston, and Scotland-born actor Solly McLeod. Filmmaker Ben Wheatley will also attend the festival for a screening of his debut feature, Down Terrace, followed by a Q&A session. Glasgow opens February 28 with the UK premiere of Rose Glass’ latest Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart. 

Chris Young To Head Sean Connery Talent Lab

The UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) has hired Scottish film producer Chris Young to lead the Sean Connery Talent Lab as part of the expansion of NFTS Scotland. The school has said Young will be tasked with spearheading the 12-month program aimed at developing emerging filmmakers across Scotland and the UK. The NFTS has partnered with the Sean Connery Foundation for the Sean Connery Talent Lab and it is supported by a wide range of other industry partners, including BBC Film. After 12 intensive months, the Sean Connery Talent Lab will culminate in the creation of six short films that will serve as ‘calling cards’ for the 30 participants. 

BFI Opens Good Work Programme 

The BFI has opened applications today for its ‘Good Work Programme for Screen,’ seeking a consortium of specialist partners to deliver activity dedicated to improving working practices in the screen sector. With £1.5m available as part of the BFI Skills Fund, the BFI has said the programme will support a strategic and practical drive to address long-reported poor working practices across the industry. “This Programme can also be a catalyst in bringing together some brilliant work already undertaken and build on this to create a single support programme for the sector’s managers and leaders to access with ease,” said Sara Whybrew, BFI’s Director, Skills and Workforce Development.