Creative Scotland has launched Screen Scotland, a new Scottish film and TV funding body backed with £3 million of investment as part of a £20 million package from the SNP Government.
Screen Scotland is tasked with boosting production by increasing funding and support to grow the number and diversity of film and TV productions from Scotland; creating specialist business development provision for screen businesses; growing and improving Scotland’s screen infrastructure including studio facilities, and developing Scotland’s reputation as a destination for international productions and co-productions, supported by our world-class talent, crews, facilities and unique locations.
As part of its new remit, Screen Scotland’s £3 million will support the development and production of distinctive high-quality projects for television broadcast, digital broadcast and streaming platforms that promote Scotland’s culture, creativity and diversity to the world.
Open to Scotland-based production companies, the Broadcast Content Fund will make development and production awards of between £10,000 - £500,000.
This announcement comes as new figures show that film and TV expenditure in Scotland in 2017 reached a record £95 million, a £26 million increase on 2016. Over the past decade, spend has increased more than 300%.
Robert Wilson, Chair of Creative Scotland said:
“Building on the sector’s achievements to date, these latest announcements deliver further on the promise to increase funding, build stronger relationships at home, across the UK and internationally, increasing capacity within Screen Scotland and working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“These are truly exciting times for Scotland’s screen sector. With David Mackenzie’s Outlaw King opening next month’s Toronto International Film Festival and the extraordinary feature documentary Aquarela receiving its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Scotland is making its mark on some of the world’s most iconic screens.
“The SNP Government’s 2018-19 budget included an additional £10 million for the TV and film sector, to bring screen development, production and growth funding to £20 million in 2018-19. This backing will support Screen Scotland in meeting their target of a £160 million film and TV production spend in Scotland by 2022, sustaining and creating jobs in both the sector and the wider Scottish economy.”
To find out more about Screen Scotland, please visit its new dedicated website here.
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