Over £1million awarded to talented North West film makers

The North West’s most promising film makers, scriptwriters and media development organisations are celebrating after being awarded over £1million funding through North West Vision.

Since April 2002 North West Vision the TV, Film and Moving image Development Agency for englandsnorthwest has received 291 lottery applications with 93 being successful. The funding from lottery funding and treasury money has been a tremendous benefit to the region not just for film makers but for businesses and cultural organisation’s with filming production generating millions for the local economy.

Of the total £1million, £530,000 has been allocated to key partner organisations, including the Cornerhouse in Manchester; WFA based in Trafford and First Take in Liverpool. Filmmakers and creative media cultural organisations have benefited from the remaining £470,000.

In the recent round of lottery funding over £140,000 was awarded to 27 out of a total of 106 applicants. The money will be spent making innovative films, organising exciting media events, and diverse film festivals. To date the funding has been a fantastic way of helping to develop and promote the creative talent in the region and put the North West on the International Media map.

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive for North West Vision said:

“The wealth of talent that we have in the North West is overwhelming and North West Vision is extremely proud to be able to offer exciting opportunities and support for new and emerging film makers in the region. North West Vision is passionate about the region as a media destination and a vibrant, innovative cultural centre. The growth of the film making industry will have a positive knock on effect on the sustainable growth of the media industry and tourism and business development in the North West as a whole”.

Brief Information on recent round of allocated Funding

Promising Manchester Producer Mike Ogden has set up a number of challenging short film projects for North West Vision over the past year. Mike who is originally from Salford has been working in TV for over ten years. Since making his first award winning short film ‘Me, You and the Dead’ for North West Vision in 2002, Mike has gone on to full time directing for Mersey TV. His current projects for North West Vision include ‘Small World’ a film about a group of semi unrelated characters who sort out their lives through a self help book and ‘Pots and Pans’ a comedy that explores the feelings of friendship and childhood.

‘Script top Screen is a Liverpool based pro-active project that North West Vision is proud to support. It is run by BAFTA North and will run a series of events that pull together the creative teams of the North West’s best Network drama’s such as Clocking Off and Cops, to show clips and discuss the creative process when getting a programme from script to screen.

Kendal Mountain Film Festival is one of the best Film Festivals in the world. It attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the world. This year’s festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest with many guests from the mountain climbing profession. The festival will screen features, shorts, documentaries, IMAX and will run an education programme. The BBC and North West Media will run the ‘Filming Extreme’ film school. This is an annual event at which the BBC provides workshops and support to encourage young and aspiring filmmakers to explore any mountain subjects, culture, sport and the environment.

All funded projects and events are set in a variety of North West locations including Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria, Cheshire and Lancashire.