Inside Pictures, the UK Film Council's film business training programme run by Qwerty Films (previously Kuhn & Co) has announced its 14 successful participants for its second annual intensive training programme.

Fourteen participants were chosen from over 250 applications through a committee selection process and a shortlist of interviews.

John Woodward, UK Film Council Chief Executive said, "The first year of Inside Pictures worked extremely well. We are confident that it has opened doors for the first year participants and will help them progress their careers through increasing their understanding of the film business. This year's participants will benefit from some of the most important and influential industry executives in the business."

"Last year's programme proved that training of this breadth and calibre is a formidable professional asset for its participants", said Michael Kuhn. "The 2002 participants rose to the challenge beyond our expectations and I have no doubt the 2003 participants will also make the very most of this incredible opportunity".

Twenty-one applicants were interviewed in early May by a panel which consisted of Andrew Eaton, producer for Revolution Films, Marion Pilowsky, Head of International Production at Myriad Pictures, marketing and distribution consultant Julia Short, programme director Jill Tandy of Qwerty Films and Helen Bagnall, Head of the Training Fund at the UK Film Council.

"The standard of applicants was very high this year and the selection process particularly difficult" said Jill Tandy. "We are thrilled with the 14 who have been chosen and believe they will make a great team. They are smart, confident professionals who will make a positive impression on the 90 plus senior industry speakers who have volunteered their valuable time to be part of the programme."

The 14 participants are:

Madonna Baptiste, Producer, Blast Films
Keith Bell, Producer, Northmen Productions
Colin Burch, Distributor, Verve Pictures
Michael Elson, Director of Production, The Moving Picture Company
Nicole Finnan, Finance and Commercial Director, Ecosse Films
Sean Hinton, Managing Director, Ealing Studios
Keeley Naylor, Company Director and Publicist, Emfoundation
Jason Newmark, Producer, Dan Films
Nuala O'Halloran, Director of International Acquisitions, UIP
Joe Oppenheimer, Development Producer, BBC Films
Ronnie Planalp, Director of Film, PACT
Dee Poku, Director of Publicity, Momentum Pictures
Julia Reed, Managing Director and Producer, Harry Nash
Lucy Wainwright, Legal and Business Affairs Executive, Working Title Films

The programme is sponsored by United International Pictures and Dorsey & Whitney.