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Promoting film to Hollywood
19/05/2009
Talent agents from top Hollywood film agencies will be invited to experience the best of Scottish-based film talent at the renowned Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF).
Funding of £110,000 from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund will promote Scottish film to international audiences and enable the EIFF to arrange screenings, events and one-to-ones with agents to encourage a boost in production for Scottish film.
Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
"Scotland has a history of producing captivating, provocative film and this Expo funding is a means of opening the doors to the vast potential that exists for increased production in Scotland. There is a real capacity for growth in this industry and I am pleased to see that the EIFF, through Expo, has grasped the opportunity to develop strong business relationships and partnerships which will hopefully result in business for our film makers.
"Our creative industries, including film, make an important contribution to our economy, generating turnover of £5.1 billion in 2006. That is why so far this year we have awarded over £1.7 million across five festivals with more to follow through the year.
"This funding will allow the EIFF to invite talent agents from the top Hollywood agencies to attend the Festival, allowing them to experience first hand the incredible talent Scotland has to offer, and allow audiences worldwide to enjoy Scottish film.
"Today is Scotland Day at the Cannes International Film Festival and I'm delighted that Expo will join that promotion of Scotland's strong film culture and extend its prospects on an international stage.
"I am particularly pleased to see the EIFF using the Year of Homecoming as an opportunity to reach out to Scots in world cinema and build relationships through a Scottish Film Diaspora event. We have already seen good results from the EIFF Expo project last year and I am sure with so much going on in 2009 there is real promise for our film talent."
Ginnie Atkinson Managing Director of EIFF said:
"EIFF is very pleased to be able to bring Scottish filmmaking talent into focus by inviting top talent agents from the US to attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
"The EIFF is an excellent forum for this type of bespoke meeting between agents and Scottish filmmakers and also offers the opportunity for the talent agents to experience the EIFF as a whole, to see films and to meet other UK filmmaking talent.
"The US agents are also available to take part in advice sessions and panels and to meet their UK counterparts. This all adds up to a very productive time for them and for us."
This year's EIFF Expo initiative follows on from last year's successful project which saw US and UK agents meeting with 33 Scottish film makers including writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, composers and production designers. Activity throughout 2008/09 has strengthened the relationships between the Scottish and US film industries, and has resulted in a number of successes - notably Scottish film director Hannah Robinson who, after a very successful meeting with one of the agents in Edinburgh, the project has progressed to the point of casting.
Scottish film director Hannah Robinson said:
"The Edinburgh Film Festival Expo [2008] could not have come at a better time for us last year. Frank Wuliger, one of the senior partners at top LA boutique agency Gersh, asked to read the script. Frank emailed when he arrived to say that he thought it was excellent and wanted to arrange a meeting in Edinburgh.
"Less than a year later, our producers, Concept Entertainment, are currently packaging the script with top casting agent Gail Stevens. So really, we can't thank the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund enough for such a brilliant scheme - the right time, the right place and just the right people."
Scotland Day at Cannes International Film Festival also takes place today and Scottish Screen has planned a number of activities and events to promote Scotland's talent, films, businesses and locations to the world's film industry. There are two Scottish short films screening in the Cannes Festival this year - By the Grace of God and Shooter.
An initial £60,000 was provided in 2008 to set up the EIFF as a hub allowing Scottish-based filmmakers and actors to network and showcase their talents internationally. Last year's successful EIFF Expo project saw US and UK agents meeting with 33 Scottish film makers including writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, composers and production designers. The initiative also strengthened the relationships between the Scottish and US film industries.
This Expo funding will assist the Film Festival to achieve the following:
- To host a Scottish Film Diaspora event, which will celebrate the Scots in world cinema with a high-profile PR campaign during the Festival dates
- To programme a series of live events including onstage interviews with key figures, master classes and retrospective screenings of their work
- To work with Scottish Screen to identify key Scottish talent (filmmakers who are Scottish-based or Scottish-born). These filmmakers may or may not have films in the 2009 programme but will have completed work that could be shown on screeners
- To invite up to ten film industry executives from the USA to the EIFF. These would be a mix of talent agents and packaging agents
- To organise a series of networking events. The key to successful business is also being able to meet in a social environment. There will be a Scottish Filmmakers' reception attended by US agents, Scottish filmmakers, key film industry stakeholders and accredited press
- To facilitate bespoke meetings between the talent and the agents. A face-to-face opportunity either in a meeting, lunch or working breakfast following the screenings. EIFF has experience of bringing together those who have product and projects with those who are seeking product and talent. Offering advice and assistance, EIFF will facilitate the meetings and help to make valuable introductions
The Expo fund is available to all 12 Festivals in Edinburgh to support the development of Scottish-based work. The planned expenditure for the Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund is £6 million over three years (2008-09 to 2011-12).