Current role: lead assistant editor / PPC
Film Forward role: post-production manager
Inka Ritola has been working in post-production for over a decade. Most recently she has been in positions as a lead assistant editor at Box to Box Films and Fulwell73, working on factual entertainment productions for Netflix. Now, she can add being a member of the new Film Forward cohort to that list.
The programme, developed in collaboration between the Film Skills Fund and The Adobe Foundation, is an evolved iteration of the Fund’s Film Forward initiative and is specifically designed to support deaf, disabled and neurodivergent professionals in the film industry.
Fillm Forward will match candidates with three or more years of experience with paid placements in post-production, virtual production and VFX and provide them with career coaching to support them to step-up to a more senior role.
Inka found details of the programme on the ScreenSkills website, “where I have previously taken industry training courses to develop my career in post-production,” she said. “I regularly check ScreenSkills training programmes and was delighted to find one specifically aimed at people like me!”
She’s hoping that her time on the programme will help her make that next step in her career: “As a freelancer, progressing to the next level is difficult, add being neurodivergent into the mix, and it’s even harder. With my extensive post-production experience, this programme will help me refine my skills, build confidence, and gain structured support tailored to neurodivergent professionals. Having that specific support while developing new skills will be invaluable. I’m excited about the future opportunities this programme will open up for me.”
Designed to provide the skills, knowledge and network for those with experience within post-production, Film Forward aims to remove barriers to progression by providing candidates with vital opportunities through hands-on experience and mentorship at leading post-houses and companies.
This aspect – receiving on-the-job learning at a leading facility – was an immediate draw from Inka, who explained: “I’m most excited about getting hands-on experience in post-production management. While I already have many of the skills needed for post-managing, there are areas where I lack direct experience. The best way for me to learn is through practice, so this programme will be critical for my career progression, as well as my personal and professional development.”
Having secured a placement as post-production manager at Molinare, Inka will now embark on a four-week position at the company whose credits include Downton Abbey, The French Dispatch, The Father and recent Skills Fund contributing productions, The Old Oak and Layla.
While she hopes to develop her own career through the programme, Inka also believes that Film Forward’s focus on inclusivity and commitment to creating viable new pathways is good news for the wider industry. “Many talented professionals face barriers to career progression due to a lack of structured pathways. Programmes like Film Forward provide the training, support, and visibility needed to make workplaces more inclusive—ultimately strengthening the industry as a whole.”
It's the combination of the personal and industry improvement that caught Inka’s attention, one she’s more than happy to be a part of: “I’m very proud to be part of this programme.”
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Find out more about the Film Skills Fund