We help ambitious start-up filmmakers develop new ideas that commercially scale.
IN COLLABORATION WITH
“The incubator will play a central role in culture building through creative innovation with a daring indie spirit that will break new ground in the screen industry. It is wonderful to be part of a forward thinking initiative that is dedicated to opening up career opportunities that are equally aimed at new and established talent.
Amanda Nevill CBE
Former BFI Chief Executive & Pathway Advisory Board Member
Mentors Roster
Our roster of creative media startup mentors are hand-picked from the media and entertainment industry.
Pathway Indie’s mentorship roster consists of expertise that draws from the worlds of film, television, video games, tech, intellectual property and virtual production services.
Amanda Nevill CBE
Strategic Advisor to the international screen industries and former BFI chief executive of 17 years. Amanda will share with Pathway Indie mentees her depth of experience and knowledge from the executive levels of the industry.
Sebastian Fleer
An experienced Product Director and Producer from the video games industry (Ubisoft, Koch Media, Jagex), Sebastian has worked on IPs such as Rainbow 6 and Dead Island while being responsible for 9-figure revenues. Via Pathway Indie, Sebastian will offer his experience and insight on Product-Market Fit for cross-media IP strategies.
Bedos Mavambu
As a visual effects coordinator and Virtual Production specialist, Bedos has worked with DNEG and Lux Machina on high-end television shows and feature films such as Hijack, House of the Dragon, Master of the Air and Death on the Nile. Through our incubator programme Bedos will help to offer VP-focused advice to mentees.
Erica Wolfe-Murray
An intellectual property entrepreneur and consultant, Erica is a specialist in business growth through cultural media and innovation. Erica brings to the incubator a wealth of knowledge in how to align creative media IP with scalable revenue opportunities.
Ben Smedstad
Over the last 30 years Ben has worked as a creative lead across AAA video game development (BioWare, Relic) and publishing (Activision Blizzard, EA, SEGA), AR and VR (Facebook) and on concept development for television. Through Pathway Indie Ben will share his expertise as a cross-media executive creative director.
Stacia Pfeiffer
As a cross-discipline producer and creative director for XR storytelling, Stacia has worked across television, virtual reality, immersive installations and live projects. Recently, Stacia worked as a VP producer on Hijack for Apple TV and brings her producing skills to Pathway Indie as a mentor.
Martin SFP Bryant
A seasoned consultant, writer and educator in the fields of media and technology, Martin was formerly the editor-in-chief for The Next Web. As founder of early-stage tech startup platform PreSeed Now, he brings a unique perspective to creative media start-ups to Pathway Indie.
July 2024 -June 2025 Applications Open
Introducing
The Sir Sydney Samuelson Stage
at Pathway
Named after a film industry legend, our virtual production stage continues on with the passion for developing new talent and pushing the cutting edge of technology that Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE was know for over the course of a 50 year career.
Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE
Work With The Latest Screen & Real-time Production Technology
6,000 Sq Ft VP Facility, 4,300 Sq Ft Stage
Become The Next Generation of Creative Industry
FAQs
Who is Pathway Indie for?
The program is for entrepreneurial media founders, who we classify as production company owners, filmmakers, content creators and technologists who are primarily interested in Virtual Production as a way of advancing their career ambitions.
Is there a location based criteria?
Pathway Indie is open to people in the UK and to international applicants with the right to work in the United Kingdom. Support and mentorship and Virtual Art Department services can all be delivered remotely. VP studio days on the Sir Sydney Samuelson Stage are accessible at location in Manchester, England.
How do I submit an application?
Fill out a Pathway Indie application form and we will inform you via email if you have been successful. Other methods of submitting an application will not be considered.
What will successful applicants receive?
We provide you with mentorship that is business focused and designed to make your new product idea more investible and scalable. We will also provide you with VP studio time and/or Virtual Art Department services which is classed as a value based in-kind contribution. In some cases we will award 100% of the value of services.
What is an in-kind contribution?
‘Benefit In-kind’ or ‘Value in-kind’ is a business term for the provision of goods or services that have a market value which are provided to a receiving party instead of cash investment. We use our VP studio and services as a time and knowledge based investment into media founders that fit our investment criteria.
What is in it for Pathway Indie?
In return for our services, knowledge, network and time investment we ask for the first right of refusal on further VP development and production services of your Intellectual Property. We also agree with the media founder a revenue share percentage of the IP on a case by case basis. This incentivises us to provide long term assistance to you after you have benefited from Pathway Indie. Long term assistance is in the form of relevant business introductions and partnerships through our media industry network.
Meet Our Virtual Art Department
REPORTED ON BY