NESTA/UK Film Council Digital Innovation in Film participants announced
24/07/2008
NESTA and the UK Film Council have named the 12 independent British film businesses who will participate in the Digital Innovation in Film programme. The programme which is jointly run by the two organisations, in conjunction with national and regional screen agencies, is designed to help small independent British film companies to embrace new business growth opportunities through digital distribution.
The companies were selected from 50 entries and represent creative businesses at different stages -incorporating film production, distribution and sales.. For the next 18 months they will be teamed up with specialist partners who will help them to develop the content, marketing and digital distribution potential of their films to audiences around the world in new ways. Each organisation will have a specially tailored programme which will include financial/business planning support, identifying and delivering opportunities for new forms of distribution, with the goal of improving the film business's potential for growth and investment.
The 12 businesses are:
• B3 Media
• BreakThru Films
• Film Export UK
• Hollywood Classics
• Lux
• Metrodome Distribution
• Mosaic Films
• onedotzero
• Revolver Entertainment
• Vod Almighty
• Warp Films
• Zini Limited
Commenting on the announcement, John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council says "The digital world is already having a huge impact on the film industry and we will either adapt or fall by the wayside. This initiative is important because it helps to equip a diverse range of different film businesses to succeed on the new frontier."
One of the chosen businesses Hollywood Classics said "This is a really exciting opportunity for us. We very much welcome access to digital distribution expertise to explore emerging opportunities for new revenue streams, but we also need to be linked in to a broader network of companies who can share their experiences and contacts".
Jon Kingsbury, NESTA's Creative Economy programme director added: "Independent film companies are the bedrock of our creative sector. The chosen companies will not only receive vital support for their own businesses, they will also be helping us to design a broader framework of intervention and support for independent film companies across the UK - positioning us as a key player in the global film industry".
Contact:
For further information, please contact Catherine Anderson on 020 7438 2609 or catherine.anderson@nesta.org.uk or Caroline Nagle at the UK Film Council on 020 7861 7508 or email caroline.nagle@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Editor's Notes:
UK Film Council
The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films and in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. We also invest in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad.
NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts. With endowed funds of over £300 million, its mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. It does this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.
Digital Innovation in Film
This programme is a key part of the DCMS Creative Britain strategy, addresses a critical need identified by the UK Film Council and is a key strand of NESTA's Creative Economy portfolio. It was launched and endorsed by Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism, the on 12 March. The pilot programme will assist a portfolio of twelve businesses to explore the opportunities of digital distribution across the independent film sector, improving their investment-readiness and providing strategies for sustainable growth. Key to this programme will be extracting vital learning and disseminating the learning for the industry as a whole. View footage of the Digital Innovation in Film launch event.
Further information on the chosen film companies:
B3 Media
B3 makes connections between Britain's multicultural communities and its creative industries by uniting the power of digital media with the creative potential of emerging digital artists, film makers, visual artists and sound artists. The collaboration with NESTA, UKFC and the Innovation Partners is a great opportunity to build on their vision for the organisation to the cutting edge of digital culture.
BreakThru Films Ltd
BreakThru Films is a UK based production company with very eclectic credits, from animation to live action. Their film Peter and the Wolf has won 4 awards (Rose d'Or, Annecy and Pulcinella awards) and a BAFTA nomination, it has sold-out concert halls worldwide with its live orchestral screenings. The project and its partners will stimulate their continuing challenge to redefine the boundaries of story-telling.
Film Export UK
Film Export UK is the trade association for companies with international film sales and distribution operations in the UK. They are excited by the chance to work with experts in the field to identify solutions which will be relevant and valuable to all stakeholders in the film value chain.
Hollywood Classics
Hollywood Classics markets and distributes the theatrical rights of classic films. They are extremely pleased to be participating in this project which has the real potential to provide new and exciting opportunities in the next stage of Hollywood Classic's development.
Lux
Luxonline is a resource devoted to British film and video artists. Streaming video clips, new writing, past articles and biographies, it provides a comprehensive contextual background to the artists featured on the site. The Digital Innovation in Film programme will enable them dramatically to increase access to and circulation of their collection of over 5,000 artists' films and videos and build on the work they have started with their online resource.
Metrodome Distribution Ltd
Metrodome Distribution Ltd, part of Metrodome Group PLC, is a well established UK independent all rights distributor trading since 1999. Moving forward, they are keen to expand their current business and diversify into new areas of the film and TV industry, but as a priority aim to utilise new technologies to expand consumer access to their films.
Mosaic Films LLP
Mosaic Films specialises in producing compelling, high quality documentaries which push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking practice and content. They particular expertise in international co-productions and are committed to nurturing the best of British and overseas talent, whilst working also with top documentary filmmakers. Mosaic Films is excited by the opportunities offered by the emerging digital markets towards the creation of new models in the production and distribution of documentary film.
onedotzero
onedotzero is a hybrid organisation: a cross-media production company and an acclaimed international network of events. The business champions and explores new forms of moving image, celebrating the next generation of creators. They are thrilled to be selected to expand capabilities across a number of evolving strategic objectives, helping them to grow across business and creative areas. It is important to onedotzero to work with intelligent professionals to build on their leadership and legacy in innovation in the area of creative digital filmmaking and distribution - taking the organisation, related projects, creators and content to a higher level, reaching a wider audience whilst building an understanding of the digital opportunities.
Revolver Entertainment
Revolver Entertainment, one of the leading independents in the UK, is a multi-award winning, marketing led all rights distributor, who in recent years have shaken up the industry with a unique approach to managing releases.
VOD Almighty
VOD Almighty is a global and independent platform streaming a variety of content truly on demand: streaming in high quality that can be integrated into a home entertainment system. Significantly each film has its own dedicated page and URL allowing the film-makers to interact with, and market directly to, their audience and the VOD Almighty community.
Warp Films
Warp Films is a Sheffield-based producer of innovative and distinctive content which is both commercially and critically successful. Their product, which includes features, shorts and music videos, has a unique voice and an identifiable, loyal audience. They want to exploit their product in order to build a sustainable content production and distribution company, recognising that their target audience is digital savvy so they need to be too.
Zini Limited
Zini is start-up company which aims to establish an open access global broadband channel and supply third party licensees with On Demand rights of independent films. The channel, zinifilm.tv will be accessible globally through a variety of platforms. It will represent an important step forward in the evolution of independent film businesses and provide a model for producers and distributors to adopt in making their businesses ‘fit for purpose' in the digital age.