Meet the Money – Report

Pippa Best (standing) introduces the guest speakers at Meet the Money. This event took place at the Cornwall Film Festival 2005. Supported by Cornwall Film and Cornwall Media Focus, members of the media sector in Cornwall had the opportunity to hear about the latest funding information from a variety of sources, in round table discussion.

Joe Oppenheimer, BBC Films

Budget: £10 million/year.
Directors expected to have high level experience, at least good documentary background or award winning shorts.
BBC info via Writers Room website.

Anthony Skates, SW Screen

Skills Training – Pot finishes March 06, offers 50% funding support.
Starting to negotiate with SWERDA for mid 06 onwards.
£1 million – Innovation alliance – get smaller companies to work together, minimum of 3 companies in each alliance.
Getting BBC to work with smaller companies, via 3 lead companies, eg Touch.

Sarah-Jane Meredith, SW Screen

UKFC money for audience, festivals and individuals.
New focus on shorts development for TV and radio.
Digital Shorts scheme their only production fund, for under 10 mins, average 2-7 mins running time.
New scheme – contextualising archive footage.

Natalie - UK Film Council

Budget: £53 million/annum. Board decides how the money is spent.
Funds – Development £12 m/3 year period.
Slate Funding – for Producers
Singles – Open to everyone

To cover script development, editors, travel, fees etc.

£10k limit for individuals, but more if going to Limited Company.
2,000 applications/year
160 projects in development
If your script is rejected you get feedback from Script Factory reader, and if your script has clearly moved on, you can reapply.

Agnieska Moody, UK Media Programme

They don’t support production, as expect it to be covered at a national level.

€17-19 million goes to production support.
Distributing – 3 schemes, access via Producer
Slate funding
We expect companies to have a track record. They must have produced similar work on either big or small screen.
€50k = 50% maximum investment in projects.

Now a good time to apply for 28th February 06 deadline.
15th Feb New Talent Prize for under 35’s.
Other schemes for distributors.