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Hallmark Empowers Aspiring Female Directors Through Mentorship Program
17 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Hallmark's Make Her Mark program selects 4 new directors for mentorship
- Participants will shadow established directors on Hallmark movie productions
- Previous Make Her Mark alum to direct new Hallmark Christmas and Spring movies
In November 2025, Hallmark Media announced the latest class of creatives chosen for its Make Her Mark, a reciprocal women's directing mentorship program. Four aspiring directors - Angie Nolan, Hannah Michielsen, Huriyyah Muhammad, and Sarah Wilson Thacker - were selected to begin the mentorship phase of the program. Hallmark actor and writer Nikki DeLoach also joins the initiative.
As part of the program, participants will work towards the opportunity of directing a Hallmark movie while shadowing an established director throughout the entire production process. The program was founded by Hallmark actor and producer Ashley Williams to support and increase the representation of women behind the camera.
Additionally, previously announced Make Her Mark participant Eva Tavares will make her directorial debut with the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie The Christmas Baby, while program alumna Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe is set to direct her fourth Hallmark movie premiering in Spring 2026. Hallmark Media's Senior Vice President of Physical Production, Randy Pope, expressed the company's pride in the impact Make Her Mark has made on their productions since its inception in 2023.
