London – 1 December 2009:
The UK Film Council today announces an exclusive association with the film partnership specialists Film Tree, to develop advertiser-funded film production in the UK. The appointment, which will see Film Tree facilitating relationships between brand owners and filmmakers, is part of the UK Film Council's ongoing commitment to stimulate new opportunities for the financing of feature film production and distribution in the digital world.
Set up by a team with a broad range of experience in film marketing, finance, and advertising, Film Tree will serve as a bridge between film producers and distributors keen to explore innovative funding routes, and brands searching for the highest quality entertainment content for their marketing campaigns. The initiative will provide film companies with better access to brand financing, offer new ways of engaging with audiences, and promote closer working relationships between the creative industries.
John Woodward, Chief Executive of the UK Film Council, said:
"At a time when traditional sources of finance and revenues are diminishing, part of the UK Film Council's job is to help the film sector with practical solutions. Essentially we are establishing a partnership that will enable brands to speak more directly to filmmakers about financing new films, creating a genuine fit between the brand and the film project looking for production finance."
Ed Sharp, Partner at Film Tree, said:
"Branded entertainment can create even more engaging marketing campaigns and deliver tangible returns on investment – for all involved. This exciting partnership comes as we are working with a number of UK film producers and distributors on commercial projects, each with a clearly defined audience in mind, and each searching for additional financing."
For more information, please contact:
Oliver Foster, Head of Press and Public Affairs
T: 020 7861 7508
M: 07920 560509
E: oliver.foster@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Ed Sharp, Partner at Film Tree
M: 07540 617222
E: edsharp@film-tree.com
Notes to Editors
UK FILM COUNCIL (www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk)
- The UK Film Council is the Government-backed lead agency for film in the UK, supporting the UK film industry, celebrating UK film culture and nurturing UK film talent at home and abroad.
- Since its creation in 2000 the UK Film Council has backed more than 900 films, shorts and features, which have won over 300 awards and entertained more than 200 million people around the world.
- Its support develops new filmmakers, funds exciting new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad. In addition, it funds the British Film Institute.
- Films backed by the UK Film Council include Fish Tank, Bright Star, Man on Wire, In the Loop, Bend it like Beckham, The Constant Gardener, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, Red Road, St Trinian's, This is England, Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland, Vera Drake and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
- Current UK Film Council funding initiatives include:
- the world's first Digital Screen Network, which has invested in 240 digital screens in cinemas across the country, increasing film choice, bringing the 3D experience to a wider audience, and ensuring the UK has more digital screens than any other European country;
- over 200 film societies and independent regional film venues;
- UK film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival;
- working with Skillset, the UK skills and training industry body for the creative industries, to enable almost 7000 people to further their filmmaking careers;
- giving over 20,000 young people the opportunity to get involved in filmmaking through First Light Movies and Mediabox;
- sponsoring the pilot and now the current rollout of FILMCLUB to thousands of schools, introducing new generations of children to the best of British and international cinema.
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