The American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop For Women (DWW) has formed a mentor group.

The so-called Executive Circle comprises senior female studio executives and will served as advisors to annual DWW participants.

The Executive Circle executives are: Lauren Abrahams, vice-president at Sony; Amanda Brown, vice-president at Paramount; Daria Cercek, vice-president at Fox; Tonia Davis, director of development at Disney; Maradith Frenkel, vice-president at Universal; Niija Kuykendall, vice-president at Warner Bros; and Annie Laks, vice-president at Paramount Animation.

The list includes: Alana Mayo, creative executive at Paramount; Anikah McLaren, vice-president at Universal; Chantal Nong, vice-president at Warner Bros; Sara Scott, director of development at Universal; Alison Small, vice-president at Paramount/Paramount Insurge; and Erin Westerman, vice-president at Good Universe.

AFI says since the inception of the AFI DWW programme, more than 275 women have been trained in screen directing. 

Among the alumni are Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Cicely Tyson and Joanne Woodward.