26/10/2007

Welsh Film Industry Thrives as Film Agency for Wales Promotes Success

The Film Agency for Wales have released their first set of annual statutory accounts showing their investment and management of more than £1.7 million into the Welsh film sector since the Film Agency was formed in July 2006.

In addition to establishing an impressive and expereinced core team to provide advice and advocacy for the sector, the Film Agency awarded more than £500,000 of film development and production support in the first financial year to 31st March 2007 including funding for debut feature writer-director, David Howard’s ‘Flick’ starring Faye Dunaway and support for 15 new feature film projects, across a diverse range of genres, budgets, subject matter and settings, all o0f which featured Welsh born or resident talent at the helm, as writer, director and/or producer. 

Led by Chief Executive Pauline Burt, the team also took on the management of an existing slate of features supported with a further £1 million worth of Arts Council of Wales lottery investment, including three further features that went into production in this period: ‘Daddy’s Girl’ starring Jamie Winstone, an innovative theatrical documentary, ‘Sleep Furiously’ and Julian Richard’s Summer Scars. 

This production and development activity was capped off by the Arts Council of Wales  and Welsh Assembly Government approving and endorsing the Film Agency as the organization to take on the direct financial, decision-making and management procedures associated with lottery funding for film in Wales, from the start of the current financial year. 

 

The Film Agency have since awarded further funding totaling more than £1 million for projects including Cardiff’s own writer-director Wyndham Price’s innovative drama Abraham’s Point starring Mackenzie Crook of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean fame. The film is being produced under the Spinning Head Film’s banner, the first company to be spun out of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.Respected international sales agent, Moviehouse Entertainment are representing the film.

Following on from his much acclaimed club-scene feature, Human Traffic, Welsh filmmaker, Justin Kerrigan’s ‘I know you Know’, is similarly supported by the Film Agency, and will star Robert Carlyle and first-timer, Aaron Fuller. With filming due to begin shortly, the project has added value by providing trainee places for eight individuals, all of whom come from disadvantaged Community First areas. 

Other highlights this year include a production award for Welsh filmmaker, David Howard’s debut feature, Flick, starring Hugh O’Connor and Faye Dunaway, which will get its market Premiere at the American Film Market this November. 

“It is important to recognize that the film and television industry represents a significant economic force in Wales – bringing more than £32m into the economy last year” explains Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency for Wales. 

“However, aside from this focus on direct economic benefits, which can equally be brought about by inward investment from production companies coming to Wales from elsewhere, the Film Agency places an absolute emphasis on the growth and support of key creative Welsh talent – particularly writers, directors, producers and production companies, wherever their projects are set, or whatever the subject matter – in recognition that this is an investment in long-term creative capital – in filmmakers who can enjoy success if appropriately supported, that is recognized in their engagement in the wider international film market”.

“Equally important is our work within film education and the exhibition sector. During our abbreviated first financial year, we have actively promoted the wide range of benefits film encompasses to people of all ages, including the support of ten film education projects across Wales. Furthermore, we have acted as an advocate for the sector promoting the incorporation of film education in the Curriculum Review; hosting a sector specific Education Forum that brought key stakeholders, participants and practitioners together – in some cases for the first time; and in undertaking much needed strategic work, which is on-going, within the framework of the UK Film Council and BFI led, UK-Wide Education Strategy Review.  This work is expected to come to fruition next year. “

Furthermore with the support of core funding from the Film Agency, independent exhibition venues across Wales, including Film Societies, recorded 2543 specialist screenings with more than 101,000 admissions, demonstrating that the Film Agency can enhance the access that audiences across Wales have to specialist films.

”It has been an intensive first year for the Film Agency, where much has been achieved.  We will be consolidating this work during the current financial year, supporting a significant number of features in development and production, providing on-going core funding to proven specialist film exhibitors and supporting the project work of other important exhibition events and initiatives that broaden the cinematic opportunities available to the public, in addition to implementing a film festival policy, designed to complement UK-wide festival support and improve the value and growth of existing provision” added Pauline Burt

“We will seek to substantially improve the film education landscape, building upon existing best practice, to improve the efficiency and provision of what is currently available and to significantly increase access to such services across Wales.”

“This first year of operation for the Film Agency for Wales has been tremendously exciting and fulfilling as in less than a year, we have firmly established ourselves as a significant body in film development and production, in addition to making substantial strides forward in relation to film exhibition and education in Wales,” concluded Peter Edwards, Chairman of the Film Agency for Wales.

“We are proud of the work we have done to date and look forward to consolidating these efforts in the coming year, promoting the substantial talent, resources and cultural entitlement to film in and of Wales.”