Northwest Filmmakers in Cannes

FILMMAKERS from across the region are flying out to the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival, after taking part in initiatives and receiving funding from Northwest Vision and Media.

The Festival, which runs from May 14th - 25th is widely recognized as the largest film festival and trade show in the world.

“It’s our role as a regional screen agency to help build businesses, develop skills and talent, and encourage production,” explains Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of Northwest Vision and Media, who will be attending the Cannes celebrations. “As part of Vision and Media’s commitment to the continuing development of the region’s film talent, we’re supporting nine production companies in Cannes, helping each to promote their feature films,” she adds.

Among those filmmakers being supported are the three winning Vision and Media Digital Departures feature films.

In February 2007 the Digital Departures initiative was launched by Vision and Media, together with partners, the Liverpool Culture Company, the BBC and UK Film Council. Digital Departures has now created three innovative feature films in Liverpool, each with a fully-funded budget of £250,000.

As part of the Cannes’ Official Selection, Digital Departures documentary, Of Time and the City, is to be given a Special Screening during the event. The film has been made by renowned British director, Terence Davies, together with Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter of Hurricane Films, Merseyside-based producers of both factual and fictional film.

Fiona Gasper, Executive Producer Arts, for Liverpool Culture Company says: “The Digital Departures project is one of our major commissions for Liverpool’s 2008 European Capital of Culture programme and I’m delighted that Of Time and the City is to have a special screening at Cannes. The profile it will give the project and the city’s film industry will be invaluable.''

The Soixantième Theatre (60th Anniversary Cinema), which hosts all the Special Screening selections, will play host to the international premiere of Terence Davies’ Of Time and the City on Tuesday May 20 at 10pm.

The following morning, a breakfast is being hosted by Vision and Media to celebrate the screening, and to hear more about the ground-breaking Digital Departures talent initiative under which it was produced.

“Throughout the Festival we will be manning a Vision and Media stand in the UK Film Pavilion at Cannes, offering information and advice on funding, location and production services available in England’s Northwest,” says Alice Morrison. “We’ll also be working very hard to try and get wider recognition for our filmmakers, showing a world-wide audience just what fantastic talent we have in our region.”