Latest news: Funding for regional films

Creative England opens two new lottery funded schemes to support regional film making, worth a total of £250,000. 09/12/2011 

Delegated from the British Film Institute (BFI)  the development fund and film networks fund will be key drivers in delivering Creative England’s talent development aims, with awards on offer from £2,500 to £25,000.

The aims are to nurture emerging and established regional filmmaking talent by supporting the development of their work and by encouraging a diverse and engaging on-screen cultural identity for the English regions.

‘We’re targeting our Development Funds at those unique regional voices with great new stories to tell, combined with the skill to drive their project forward both creatively and commercially. We’d like to hear from applicants from all around the country, so that we can reflect the real diversity that is out there in the regions,’ says Creative England’s head of development, Chris Moll.

Other aims are to stimulate innovative, creative and commercial approaches to filmmaking and to promote the talent and creativity of the English regions to the world.

The development fund is welcoming applications from individual writers, writers/ directors and/ or producers based in the English regions for the development of all types of feature films, including animation and documentary.

Along with distributing lottery awards, the talent development team will provide advice, brokerage and practical help to filmmakers in developing and producing their projects.

‘The launch of Creative England’s talent development funds will be welcomed by writers, directors and producers across England, and will complement well the talent development activities of the BFI’s Film Fund which benefits applicants throughout the UK. We are absolutely committed to supporting the UK’s emerging filmmaking talent and Creative England is a key delivery partner in fulfilling this commitment; we look forward to working closely together in supporting distinctive, diverse and exciting filmmaking talent in the English regions,’ said Eddie Berg, the BFI’s director of Partnerships.