UK Film & TV industry receives €70m from MEDIA

by Annika Pham

12/02/2007 - During yesterday’s official launch in Berlin of the new programme MEDIA 2007, it was revealed that the UK film and television industry was granted approximately €70m euros over the past six years (2001-2006) through Europe’s MEDIA Programme funding.

UK companies received a total of €39.5m: €22.3m for producers, €7.6m for distributors, 812,546 for festivals and promotions, €5.5 for training institutions, and €4m for exhibitors.

Films supported include Code 46 [trailer], On a Clear Day [trailer], Love + Hate, Snowcake [trailer], Bend it Like Beckham [trailer], Red Road [trailer], Shooting Dogs [trailer], Stormbreaker [trailer] and The Wind That Shakes the Barley [trailer, film focus].

In addition to funding received directly by British companies, €29.6m was received by distributors throughout Europe to acquire and release UK films such as Vera Drake [trailer], Creep, Touching the Void [trailer], The Girl with a Pearl Earring [trailer] and Pride and Prejudice [trailer].

Agnieszka Moody, head of the UK Media Desk, said: "We are delighted to have helped so many UK filmmakers successfully apply for funding through Europe’s MEDIA programme. In total, the UK has benefited by almost €70m, a great achievement and one that I hope can be topped during MEDIA 2007, which runs until 2013".

MEDIA 2007 has a budget of €755m for the next seven years, to support training, project development, distribution and promotion throughout Europe as well as a new focus to assist filmmakers with digitalisation and access to finance.