The UK Film Council has launched a new £15m Film Fund, taking over from its three former funding strands - Premiere, New Cinema and Development.
The fund is open for emerging, experimental and world-class filmmakers, and funds development as well as production,
Managed by a new team of experienced senior production and development executives, the new Film Fund has introduced an online application process in which applicants will set out their creative and strategic visions for their film. The Film Fund is open for applications from 1 April, but it will be presenting a more detailed strategy to the UK Film Council Board in the coming months. It has already been agreed that a portion of the £15m budget will be ring-fenced for development - although there will be no automatic assumption that projects developed will become films that the fund would then invest in at the production stage. The remaining budget will be safeguarded for the Film Fund's own production investments.
John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council commented: "The new Film Fund's primary focus is creative excellence. [The] team will support filmmakers who want to put British filmmaking at the centre of our national culture and on the international map. The aim is for the Film Fund to attract the best talent, encourage creative risk taking, and deliver great films to audiences.
Further details will be announced in the coming months, including details of the Film Fund's non-London investment target and how its new online showcase will operate.
The team of production executives is:
Natascha Wharton, former Head of Development at Working Title (starting 4 May 2010) will focus on development;
Lizzie Francke, former development producer for EM Media, will focus on experimental feature length films, national engagement and showcasing new talent;
Chris Collins, award-winning indie producer, will focus on ideas for future film practices for both emerging and established filmmakers, from micro / low budget features and shorts, through to 3D blockbusters.
For further information, visit the
UK Film Council website.