SWS launches iFeatures

by SWS on 21-Oct-09 09:26

South West Screen and BBC Films launch Feature Filmmaking initiative.

South West Screen and BBC Films’ commitment to nurturing cinematic talent was underlined yesterday by the launch of ‘iFeatures’, a brand new digital film initiative that will see 3 full-length features developed and shot in Bristol over the next eighteen months.

Open to writers, directors and producers from across the UK, each film will be produced on a budget of £300,000 and be drawn from a slate of 12 projects which the partners will support through an intensive six-month creative and commercial development process. Filming is scheduled for summer 2010 for the films to premiere in early 2011.

iFeatures aims to tap into Bristol’s burgeoning cultural confidence in the wake of such high profile offerings as the recent Banksy exhibition, TV shows Being Human and Skins, and the acclaimed Encounters International Short Film Festival. Bristol’s filmmaking talent was recognized at this year’s BAFTAs, with the city’s Esther May Campbell and Aardman Animations winning in the Short Film categories. Encouraging collaboration between such local talent and the nation’s brightest filmmakers is a key part of the initiative, as is finding the stories that capture the essence of the city and its people.

The scheme got its official launch at the Colston Hall's new foyer building last night, which was attended by some of Bristol's filmmaking luminaries, including BAFTA award winners, Esther May Campbell and Aardman Animations, Philippa Lowthorpe (writer of The Other Boleyn Girl) and Steve Lightfoot (who produced the recent BBC1 drama, Criminal Justice) as well as the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bristol.

Fresh from their triumphant Banksy vs the Bristol Museum show, Bristol City Council, are co-financing the iFeatures initiative alongside South West Screen and BBC Films, with the latter pre-buying UK TV rights to the final films.

Skillset’s Film Skills Fund is involved as the principal funder of the accompanying programme of professional development for all filmmakers involved in the initiative. This will include training, high-level industry mentoring and bespoke business support as well as early stage collaborations between producers and the other creative/digital sectors, particularly around marketing and online. Skillset is supporting the project as part of A Bigger Future, the training and education strategy for the UK film industry.

The development programme will also draw on lessons from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)’s ‘Take 12 Digital Innovation in Film Programme’.

iFeatures is headed up by Christopher Moll whose producing credits span the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit animation, The Wrong Trousers, to the upcoming John Lennon bio, Nowhere Boy. Christopher also initiated last year’s Digital Departures micro-budget venture in Liverpool which produced Terence Davies’ Cannes success Of Time and The City as well as Edinburgh’s Michael Powell Award nominee, Kicks and urban-anxiety horror Salvage.

Says Moll: ‘iFeatures has galvanized a fantastic range of national and regional partners, all of whom share a commitment to excellence. Digital Departures proved that, with a robust framework of support, you can produce distinctive films that look like £3 million on a tenth of the budget and still make a significant cultural and financial return. With iFeatures, we’re going to raise the game in micro-budget production even further and at every level – script, talent development, producership, marketing and distribution.’

Christine Langan, Creative Director for BBC Films says: ‘iFeatures is a really innovative way of tapping into regional filmmaking talent - and Bristol and the South West ought to be an excellent test-bed.  BBC Films is excited to partner in the development stage of this scheme, where there's a real chance for filmmakers to proceed to production.’

Steve Jenkins, Head of Films for BBC Acquisitions, says: ‘Following the BBC’s successful involvement in Liverpool’s Digital Departures scheme and Film London’s Microwave project, we are very pleased to partner in this new production venture in Bristol. It’s a great way for the BBC to help develop new talent and increase our involvement in regional-based film-making. And I’m sure the scheme will deliver three terrific films.’

Bristol City Council says: ‘We are delighted to support this exciting partnership initiative. The iFeatures Project will help to nurture emerging local talent in Bristol’s growing film industry.  The city council acknowledges and values the significant contribution the film industry brings to the city’s economic development and cultural offer and is confident the iFeatures Project will play a leading role in the future of film in the city, the region and beyond.’

Tagged:SWS Press Release, iFeatures, Chris Moll, BBC Films, Bristol City Council, Skillset, NESTA