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Film funding for Scotland
18/05/2004
An innovative partnership to support new film
makers was announced today.
Speaking at Cannes International Film Festival,
Culture Minister Frank McAveety detailed a new scheme
which will fully fund three low budget feature films
and give them worldwide distribution. The initiative is
supported by BBC Films, BBC Scotland, Scottish Screen
and ContentFilm.
Mr McAveety said:
"The Scottish film industry is developing into a
significant part of the film community. The recent success
of films produced inScotland, and by Scottish film makers, demonstrates that we
have great expertise already withinScotland.
"However, it is important that we create the
right atmosphere in which to encourage new talent. This
new initiative will provide an opportunity for up and
coming film makers to show what they can do, and I have
no doubt that the results will be first class."
The Culture Minister is attending Scotland Day at the
Film Festival in order to promoteScotlandas a film location and to promote the work of
Scottish film makers.
The strong bond of friendship betweenFranceandScotlandis being celebrated this year acrossScotlandandFrancewith the Scottish programme of entente cordiale
celebrations. It complements theUKprogramme and includes trade and investment, science
and culture, education and sporting and cultural events and
activities, and is the biggest programme of overseas
promotion since devolution.
The Low Budget Feature Film Proposal Scheme is an
initiative to fully fund three low budget features over
three years at a budget of £1.2m per film. The aim of the
initiative is to support emerging filmmaking talent to step
into the feature film arena with support and assistance
fromScotland's two major funding organisations, Scottish Screen
and BBC Scotland. Additional support will be provided by
ContentFilm who have guaranteed to distribute the three
films in theUKand internationally, ensuring domestic and world wide
exhibition.
Scottish Screen, BBC Scotland and ContentFilm wish to
provide a new opportunity for filmmakers to move forward,
creating feature length drama which reflects, displays or
connects with elements ofScotlandtoday. The aim is to reach a wide
international audience and to bring filmmakers critical and
commercial success.
The Scheme is open to teams of Scottish based
writers, producers and directors as well as
independents. The first film to be produced under the
new scheme will be announced at Cannes 2005.