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Northern Ireland Film Development Fund. NI film commission Offers interest-free loans to production companies looking to develop Northern Ireland based film and television projects. Development loans are never more than £15,000 for a film or £40,000 for drama series, and must be repaid if the project goes into production. write: Northern Ireland Film Commission 21 Ormeau Avenue, BELFAST, BT2 8HD Tel: 01232 232444 Fax: 01232 239918 Chief Executive: Richard Taylor
The Glasgow Film Fund (GFF). Provides production funding for companies making films in the Glasgow area or produced by Glasgow-based companies. Applications are accepted for films intended for theatrical release with budgets of at least £500,000. The maximum investment is around £150,000 with previous investments including Shallow Grave, Small Faces, My Name is Joe and Regeneration. Write: Glasgow Film Fund 249 West George St., GLASGOW, G2 4RB Tel: 0141 302 1757 Fax: 0141 302 1714 contact: Judy Anderson
Scottish Screen. Promotes filmmaking and culture in Scotland through script and company development, short film production, distribution of National Lottery film finance, training and location support. Scottish Screen, in a joint initiative with BBC Scotland and the Scottish Arts Council, produces three 35mm shorts per year with a budget of up to £60,000 through Tartan Shorts, which has been running for eight years. Scottish Screen Development gives awards of up to £20,000 for script development. Write: Scottish Screen 249 West George St., GLASGOW, G2 4RB Tel: 0141 302 1700 Fax: 0141 302 1711 Information Officer: Isabella Edgar
Scottish Arts Council (SAC) Lottery Department. Finances no more than 75% of the costs of a production with awards between £5,000 and £500,000. Through the Film Exploitation Fund up to £25,000 is available to help promote shorts, documentaries and the back catalogue of SAC-funded films. Development support is available through the Film Project Preparation Scheme with awards between £5,000 and £50,000. Write: Scottish Arts Council, Lottery Department 12 Manor Place, EDINBURGH EH3 7DD Tel: 0131 226 6051 Fax: 0131 447 7240
Sgrin is responsible for the implementation and development of a coordinated strategy for film, TV and new media in Wales. Initiatives include the commissioning of three to five animations annually, three 30-minutes 'short features', three 10 minute shorts (with BBC Wales), as well as development funding for co-productions between Ireland and Wales (up to £20,000 or 75% of development budget) and a £30,000 prize for best Short Film at the Wales International Film Festival. Sgrin also administer and considers applications to the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Board. Write: Sgrin, The Bank, 10 Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, CARDIFF, CF10 5EE Tel: 01222 333300 Fax: 01222 333320 www.sgrin-wales.demon.co.uk Head of Production: Pauline Larkkom (01222 333311)
Croydon Film and Video Awards. Three annual awards of £1,300 are available to film makers that live, work or study in Croydon. Croydon Film and Video Awards, Croydon Clocktower Arts, Katherine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET Tel: 0208 760 5400 e-mail: arts@croydon.gov.uk Media Officer: Mark Wilcox
first take films is a non-profit
making production and development agency supported by Anglia Television and
the Eastern Arts Board which is committed to discovering and developing new
film making voices
Produce the first take series for Anglia Television, an annual series of short
films by new writers and directors and organise short courses, masterclasses
and network evenings for aspiring writers, directors and producers hosted by
industry professionals.
Films from the first take series have achieved considerable critical acclaim,
winning awards at film festivals around the world, Perdie,
a drama from the 1999 first take series received a BAFTA nomination for Best
Short Film. Film makers given their first chance through first take have gone
on to make major drama and documentary series for Anglia Television, the BBC
and Channel Four as well as feature films.
To find out more about first take films see www.firsttakefilms.com
or contact:
first take films, Anglia House, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3JG, UK
Tel: 44 (0)1603 756 879 . Fax: 44(0)1603 767 191. email: firsttake@angliatv.co.uk
East Midland Arts Board. Invests up to £500 in script development, £1,500 for completion and £15,000 for short films. Applicants must be resident in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. East Midlands Media Initiative (EMMI). EMMI awards between £1,000 and £10,000 for development, and 25% of production costs up to a ceiling of £100,000. East Midlands Arts Board, Mountfields House, Epinal Way, LOUGHBOROUGH, LE11 0QE Tel: 01509 218292 www.arts.org.uk Officer: Annette Southern and East Midlands Media Initiative, c/o Intermedia Film and Video, 19 Heathcote Street, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 3AF Tel: 0115 955 6909 Fax: 0115 955 9956.
Isle of Man Film Commission. Companies registered on the Isle of Man that spend one fifth of their budget on the island are eligible for loans, provided on the basis of sales estimates. Media Development: Peter Carlton Isle of Man Film Commission, Illiam Dhone House, 2 Circular Road, Douglas, ISLE OF MAN, IM1 1PS Tel: 001624 685864 Fax: 01624 685454 FilmOfficer: Hillary Dougdale
THE FILM COUNCIL
combines the activities of the British Film Institute (BFI), the British
Film Commission (BFC), British Screen, BFI Production and the Arts Council of
England (ACE) Lottery Film Department. Started in April 2000 and run by Alan
Parker with £145 million in funding to distribute during the first three years
of operations. One of the Film Council's early tasks is the creation of a cohesive
strategy for boosting the UK film industry with a remit covering cultural, educational,
economic and technical issues (The Arts Council of England (ACE) is undergoing
structural changes which will largely take effect from 2000/2001. These include
the handing of power to regional arts boards (RABs) which will administer and
distribute project funding and production funding for individual artists. The
Film Council now controls the National
Lottery division of ACE. Previously, ACE also distributed money through: Artists'
film and video, Film production for the cinema and Funding of the three film
franchises.)
. Try getting a copy of their (ex British Film Institute) low budget filmmakers
guide "Lowdown",
The Film Council, Queens Yard 17A Tottenham Court Road, LONDON W1P 0BE tel:
0207 436 1357 fax: 0207 436 1391
Arts Council of England, ACE, Visual
Arts Department, 14 Great Peter St., LONDON, W1P 3NQ Tel: 0207 973 6410 Fax:
0207 9736581
Arts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice
House, 77 Malone Rd BELFAST, BT9 6AQ Tel: 01232 667000 Fax: 01232 664766
Scottish Arts Council, 12 Manor Place, EDINBURGH EH3 7DD Tel: 0131 226 6051
Fax: 0131 447 7240
Arts Council of Wales, 9 Museum Place,
CARDIFF, CF10 3NX Tel: 01222 376500 Fax: 01222 395284
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY By May 1999, the ACE Lottery Film Department had invested more than £60 million in 79 features, as well as earmarking £80 million for three studio franchises over a period of six years. Films that have received ACE funding include An Ideal Husband, Beautiful People, Hillary and Jackie, Love's Labour's Lost, Mansfield Park, Plunkett and Macleane, Shooting Fish, Still Crazy, True Blue, The Woodlanders and Wilde. ACE funding has helped draw in other sources of finance: (1999) the ACE funded on average 26% of a film's budget, with typically 37% from the UK private sector, 31% from overseas commercial sources and a further 5% UK public sector. The lottery has encouraged match funding, enabling the LPF amounst others to be more ambitious in selection.
Application forms from: National Lottery Division, Arts Council of England, 14 Great Peter St. LONDON SW1P 3NQ tel: 0207 312 0123 fax: 0207 973 6571 www.artscouncil.org.uk. Director of Lottery Film: Carolyn Lambert
BRITISH SCREEN FINANCE British Screen invests in British films, including those made through the European Co-production Fund. The contribution on each project never exceeds 30% of a film's budget, and is rarely greater than £500,000. Whilst all films accepted must show commercial potential, British Screen have a reputation for being more receptive to experimental or groundbreaking work than most financiers. Since 1986, BSF has generated around £300 million of investment in the UK film industry across development and production. An agreement with FilmFour Productions has committed the company to four low-budget films per year, although the group's long-term future is dependent upon approval and funding from the new Film Council, write: British Screen Finance 17-17 Wells Mews, LONDON, W1P 3FL Tel: 0207 323 9080 Fax: 0207 323 0092 Contact: Sara Harper
FilmFour, the film division of Channel Four Television and produces between 15 and 20 feature films each years. Handling finance, production, distribution and broadcast - both free-to-air and pay-TV - FilmFour is the UK's most significant vertically integrated film producer. Since established, it has been involved in the production of 70 shorts and 300 features. FilmFour is committed to new and emerging talent and has established a subsidiary production company, FilmFour Lab to 'support the newest and most striking creative voices and visions of tomorrow's cinema in Britain'. In association with the UK's Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) Channel Four has established four three month animator's residencies at the museum for recent animation graduates. At the end of the residency, development projects are considered by Channel Four for commissioning. Successful applicants are awarded a fee of £2,910 and a budget of up to £1,612. Although the Museum has closed for much of 2000-2001, the scheme has proved successful and is set to continue in the new British Film Institute centre when it opens. Write: Film Four 76-78 Charlotte St., LONDON, W1P 1LX Tel: 0207 868 7700 Fax: 0207 868 7742 Head of Film: Paul Webster. Head of FilmFour Lab: Robin Gutch
BBC commissions 10 ten-minute films per year from first time directors (the 10x10 series). In addition, BBC Films have a considerable production remit. BBC 10x10 Bristol TV Features, Whiteladies Road, BRISTOL, BS8 2LR Tel: 0117 974 6746 email: 10x10@bbc.co.uk Producer: Jeremey Howe.
British Film Institute (BFI) Production. Due to a shortage of funds, the BFI's production arm stopped funding films in 1999. However, through agreements with FilmFour Lab and BBC Films, announced in August 1999, the BFI intends to produce a range of low-budget features and shorts. BFI Production, 21 Stephen Street, LONDON, W1P 2LN Tel: 0207 636 5587 Fax: 0207 5809456 Head of Production: Roger Shannon.
Soros Documentary Fund. Supports international documentary films and videos on current issues in human rights, freedom of expression, social justice and civil liberties. Development funds are available in the range US$10,000 to US$15,000 with production funding no more than US$50,000. Open Society Institute, 400 West 59th Street, 4th Floor, NY 10019, USA Tel: (212) 548 0657 Fax: (212) 548 4647 Coordinator: Kyoko Inouye.
The London Production Fund . The LPF supports development, production and completion of films in the London area The LPF has three areas of film funding: develop-ment, production and completion. The LPF awards up to £3,000 for development, and up to £15,000 for production and completion (1999). The LPF often works in partnership with other regional organizations and has co-productions with European and American partners.
Maggie Ellis, Head of London Production Fund, wants to support a variety of work. She considers the strengths of the previous work submitted, the likelihood of realizing the production within the budget, and whether the film can get distribution: proposals are judged on creativity and originality.She likes to see productions that will "have a life outside TV" in festivals, galleries, other spaces. Most of the shorts the LFP fund get picked up - by Shooting Gallery [C4], cinemas, and festivals. Eighty per cent of film makers are London-based and competition for funding is fierce. The LPF recieved almost 300 applications for production in 1999.
East London Film Fund part London Film & Video Dev Agency LFVDA. 114 Whitfield St London W1P 5RW deadlines 28/4/00 30/6/00 29/9/00. Will invest upto the smaller of 25% budget or £80k but grants awarded at minimum level to make a project viable. Criteria: Low buget features/shorts/docs with the production based in East London or Lea Valley. Projects must have a significant effect on East London production economy (at least twice the level of fund investment) and take on trainees from the region (appropriate to the scale of the production). Full details & application: http://www.lfvda.demon.co.uk.
Enfield Film Fund
Yorkshire Media Production Agency based in the Workstation in Sheffield, provide partial funding for a number of media forms, from features through to experimental film and new media. Contact Ann Tobin on 0114 249 2201.
Kirklees Media Production
Fund bi-monthly funding scheme for short films upto 15 minutes. *£500
- £2000 .Short Circuits with the Kirklees Media Production Fund supports
the work of filmmakers, digital animators and multimedia artists in Kirklees.
Submit a 500-word synopsis with supporting information. The best ideas are short-listed
and booked a 15minute slot on a public pitching session so you can present your
idea in greater detail before the commissioning panel. No limit on genre or
number applications. Filmmakers must live or work in Kirklees. All commissioned
films will be shown at future Short Circuits. 8 week schedules preferred. Commissioned
filmmakers will be offered one month's free membership at TEST Digital Research
Facility, Huddersfield. TEST provides sound and DV editing facilities, Internet
access, research materials and subsidised hire rates on industrial standard
AV kit. Deadline for consideration on Thursday June 15th pitching session 500-word
synopsis, short biography and budget outline by 5.30pm Thursday June 29th 2000
. contact Lisa Roberts Programme Co-ordinator Short Circuits Commissions T 01484
431289 F 01484 513739 E lmr@architechs.com
*The average award will be for £1000. Requests for funding in excess of this
figure will need significant supporting evidence.
8 ½ short film initiative. Scottish production company Antonine Films runs a short film initiative designed to nurture Scottish based talent. Films with a running time of 8½ min are backed by a wide range of industry support schemes, including the National Lottery, Scottish Screen and the Glasgow Film Office 8½ will run on a budget of £250,000 a year until 2003.
First Film Foundation ‘New Directions’ scheme funds visits to NY etc
South East Arts run a series of script breakfasts and other schemes to nurture new writing (& directing) talent
EU
Structural Funds The Structural funds work towards the goal of
achieving economic and social cohesion in the European Union. Resources are
targeted at actions which help bridge the gaps between the more and the less
developed regions and which promote equal employment opportunities between different
social groups.
There are four Structural Funds: the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) -aims to reduce regional disparities in the Union while at the same
time encouraging the development and conversion of regions. The European Social
Fund (ESF) -aims to prevent and combat unemployment, as well as developing human
resources and promoting integration into the labour market.(plus
The European Agricultural guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and The Financial
Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG))
for 2000-2006 in Northern Ireland there are the Programme for Building
Sustainable Prosperity and the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace
II) which is a joint programme with the Border Region of Ireland.
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Private funding:
The Grosvenor Park collective partnership in 1998 pooled investor money in a range of projects such as My Name is Joe, Divorcing Jack and The Governess. The spread of films ensured each investor a return, whilst the fund management's industry experience gave them a better understanding of the film sector and potential successes than many private investors would have.
Structured Films claim to offer impartial advice for those looking to invest in British films.
The Scarlet Tunic was funded by selling shares in the film to the public, the investors got to be extras in the film too. Similarly, Cromwell Productions' Macbeth, starring Helen Baxendale and Jason Connery, the extras/investors paid £500 to be on set.
Find a copy of Hobsons Sponsorship yearbook, Hobsons Publishing, 18 Stukeley St, London WC2B5LR, 0207 405 9592. for contacts (who sponsors what) and agencies matching projects with sponsors.
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Finally: the BFI do a really useful booklet the 'Low Budget Funding Guide'. Give them a call and they'll forward you a comp copy. It has a list of regional funding avenues as well as other useful publications.
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100% Tax Breaks subsidies and tax relief on 100% of expenditure: To qualify, 70% of the film's production expenditure AND either 70% of total labour costs (after deduction of one non-Qualifying person if desired) or 75% of labour costs (after deduction of two non-Qualifying persons - of whom one must be an actor) must be spent within the United Kingdom. A Qualifying person is citizen of the EU, Commonwealth, EEA or UK. To be eligible for tax relief, the film's budget must not exceed £15 million. Guidance notes for the 100% tax breaks are available from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport website at www.culture.gov.uk/interfilm.htm
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FilmFour Lab runs the late night short film programme The Shooting Gallery and occasionally provides completion finance for works in progress.
Sale and Leaseback beware the small print, but any such schemes we find will be listed here:
Any producers who have a completed, British Qualifying, feature budgeted at £1M upwards who are interested in a sale and leaseback deal, should contact: Raj at The Plaza Film Company. tel: 0207 3233266 email: admin@plazafilms.com
Netcom are looking for completed British films under 2 years old. They buy the Master Negative, give you back at least 5% of its costs while you still retain the distribution rights. If you don't own or part own such films they pay an introductory fee. email Antony Blakey ablakey@netcomuk.co.uk or tel 01273 686268.(Sep 1998)
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More advise:
Short film Bureau, BFI...European Regional Development Fund, Regional Arts Boards
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Sales:
yeh it's tough, in 4 years the only e-mail we have received on the subject:
China Is A Great Market For Independent Film says
ChinaView Picture Co:
We are one of the China authorized company to purchase
the movies and TV programme copyright from world. Now we are looking for movies
to be produced as Video CD and distributed in China. (exclude Hong Kong). The
censorship of the movies has just started , except those films with content
of political sensitive and erotic are prohibited , all kind of movies are expected
to be accepted in China market. Sure this change in China is a beginning to
protect the copyright of your movie industry , also a good chance to import
your great movies into a very very large market in the world , China .Most important
is that you obtain the benefits, which should belong to your company originally.Yes,
please provide with the stories or details for the movies in the last 3 years,
* * must the movies which copyright is solely owned by your company ! * * by
either means as fax, email, or post to us at your soonest . fax: 852-2334-4793
post: 275 Chatham Road, 9/F Flat C, Kowllon, Hong Kong. Or, you may tell us
the movie names in your website. The next day we will tell you the accepted
movies, then please send us the sample tape with a copy of certificate which
proves the copyright is owned by you. Good news will be to you very soon as
the censor has been in process. yours sincerely, Simon Lee, Project Manager.
email: gold88@chevalier.net
or Tel: 852-23344800, 852-24985283.17 Dec.1997
USEFULL ADDRESSES
ABSA P.O. Box 496, Danesfort, 120 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5GL. Tel: 01232 664736
Arts Council of Northern Ireland, MacNeice House, 77 Malone road, Belfast BT9 6AQ phone 02890 385200 Fax 02890 661715
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Division, MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ phone 02890 385200 Fax 02890 661715
Lottery includes: New Works Scheme, Access to the Arts Scheme, Film Production Fund
Arts Council of Ireland, 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Tel: 003531 6611840
BBC Northern Ireland, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HQ. Tel: 01232 338000
BBC Drama Shorts, Independents Commissioning Department, Room C213A, BBC Centre House, 56 Wood Lane, London W12 7SB
BBC 10x10, Bristol Television Features, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR
BECTU, 111 Wardour Street, London W1. Tel: 0171 437 8506
Belfast City Council, Arts Officer, The Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BP Phone 01232 320202
BFI Production, 29 Rathbone Street, London W1P 1AG Tel: 0171 636 5587 Fax: 0171 580 9456
British Screen Finance, 14-17 Wells Mews, London W1P 3FL
Channel Four Television, 124 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2TX Phone 0171 396 4444
Channel Four/MOMI Animators' Residencies, Museum of the Moving Image, South Bank, London SE1 8XT Tel: 0171 815 1376
Cultural Traditions Group, Community Relations Council, 6 Murray Street, Belfast BT1 6DN. Tel: 01232 439953 Fax: 01232 235208
European Co-production Association, c/o France 2, 22 venue Montaigne 75387 Paris, Cedex 08, France Tel: (33) 14421 416 Fax: (33) 14421 5179
European Co-Production Fund c/o British Screen Finance, 14-17 Wells Mews, London W1P 3FL. Tel: 0171 323 9080 Fax: 0171 323 0092
Eurimages, Council of Europe, B.P.431 R6 67006 Strasbourg, France Tel: 00 33 388 41 26 40 Fax: 00 333 88 41 27 81
Film Council, Queen's Yard, 2nd Floor, 179 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9LF Phone 44 020 7436 1357 www.filmcouncil.org.uk
FilmBase, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 00531 6796716. (Offers schemes for shorts and various support services to members).
Foundation for the Sports and the Arts, PO Box 20, Liverpool L13 1HB. Tel: 0151 259 5505
Fulbright Commission, 62 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LS Tel: 0171 404 6880 Fax: 0171 404 6834 (Offers 9 months research for scriptwriters to study in USA)
Independent Productions Unit, RTE, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 Tel (003531) 208 2510
Irish Film Board, Rockfort House, St. Augustine Street, Galway Tel: 003531 561398
Belfast Regeneration Office, Brookmount Buildings, 42 Fountain Street Belfast 1 (You have to be working in and regeneration area and they will refer you to a local office).
Media II, Media Desk Ireland, Irish Film Centre, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 003531 679 5744
Northern Ireland Film Commission, 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HD Tel: 01232 232444 Fax: 01232 239918
Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, 22 Mount Charles, Belfast BT7 1NZ. Tel: 01232 245927.
UK Media Desk, British Film institute, 21 Stephen Street, London W1P 2LN Tel: 0171 957 8947 Fax: 0171 636 6568
Ulster Television, Havelock House, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 1EB. Tel: 01232 328122.
Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), 45 Mortimer Street, London W1N 7TD Tel: 0171 331 6000