The scheme is for emerging writing talent and is run in partnership with DFFB’s Serial Eyes programme

This year’s recipient of the Big Light Productions Writers’ Apprenticeship Programme is Drishya Gautham, a writer-director-creative producer from Goa, India.

The programme – now in its eighth year – is led by writer/producer and CEO Frank Spotnitz, and is designed to support emerging writers with global voices.

Gautham joins the company for the two-month placement starting in January 2025. Gautham is a writer-director-creative producer from Goa, and was selected having completed the Serial Eyes postgraduate television training programme for television writers at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB), where Spotnitz is a founding tutor. She was the programme’s first Indian participant.

Prior to joining the Serial Eyes programme, Gautham held various roles in the industry including as a development producer for Prime Video, where she was instrumental in commissioning the first slate of series and films in all four South Indian languages.

She also spent several years working with Indian production companies developing and supervising series in-house, and is currently a partner at Stray Factory, a production house best known for international co-productions such as Nasir. Her credits include comedy series Meme Boys for SonyLiv and award-wining short film B. Selvi & Daughters, which was recognised at the Indian Critic’s Choice Awards.

Gautham is currently developing Kurkuma, a Berlin-based elevated horror short about immigrant alienation with the Midpoint Shorts program.

She said of the new placement: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be selected for this year’s Big Light apprenticeship. As someone who’s always been a nerd about the craft of screenwriting, being mentored by Frank Spotnitz during Serial Eyes was a career highlight.

“I believe that it is the perfect time for storytellers from all over the world to bring their unique perspectives to the global zeitgeist. This apprenticeship gives me an invaluable opportunity to understand the UK series industry and establish my voice there. I’m sincerely grateful to the teams at Big Light and Serial Eyes.”

Spotnitz added: “Each year we look forward to welcoming a new apprentice to our programme. Now more than ever it is vital to the lifeblood of our industry that we continue to support new voices and give them opportunities to hone their craft working alongside experienced writers and executives.

“These opportunities across the industry have been diminishing as mid-budget shows and returning dramas, which are key learning grounds, have been disappearing from our schedules. We’re proud to be doing our part to help establish new talent. Drishya is one of those exceptional new talents with a distinctive and exciting voice, and one that represents how global our industry now is…”