£1.8 Million Breathes Life Into East London Film
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Date posted: 29 September 2004 East London’s film and TV sector is set to flourish under a new scheme from Film London and its partners to boost the businesses and freelancers working in London’s leading creative industry. Film London EAST will stimulate the film and media sector in East London through encouraging greater interaction between local enterprises and the capital’s wider film and TV industry. Key elements of the project include short film-making schemes, work placements, a comprehensive online database of creative professionals and resources and a website to increase vital networking between local businesses. At the heart of the project is 3 Mills Studios, recently bought by the LDA, where project staff will be based. The Film London EAST project builds on the hugely successful East London Moving Image Initiative (ELMII) which worked with 12 partners over the past three years to enable small to medium sized enterprises to strengthen and build sustainable futures in the screen industry. EAST will continue this work plus specifically encourage the integration of the east London sector in to the capital’s mainstream film industry. Close collaboration is central to the success of Film London EAST. Partners include Team Production Services, Business Link for London, UK Trade & Investment, VET, Four Corners Workshop, 3 Mills Studios, Hi8US, Middlesex University Creative and Cultural Industries Centre, Greenwich Films, BFM (Black Film-Maker Magazine), and the London boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham, and Newham. This major investment in east London’s moving image sector has been secured by Film London. £1.8 million has been awarded 44% by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Government Office for London and match funding by an investment of 56% by a raft of key partners. Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive said, "This is a great opportunity for the community in east London to continue to build a sustainable future within the capital’s film and TV sector. Film London recognises that East London is developing as an increasingly important player in the UK and international film industry; in the past 12 months we have already seen a 30% increase in film activity in the area." Danny Boyle, Film Director of 28 Days Later and Trainspotting said, "Shooting in east London is a fantastic experience - it's a vibrant place with amazing locations. East London is film's best kept secret." In the last year film activity in east London has increased by a third*. This is testament to the work of the dedicated partnerships fostered throughout ELMII and the development of new facilities and popularity of key locations. Recent projects that have filmed extensively in the area include Alfie, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, The Yank and Layer Cake. The Film London EAST scheme builds on the considerable achievements of ELMII. Many ELMII partners expressed their gratitude to the difference this project has made to local communities. Tower Hamlets and Hackney Film Fund said, “ELMII has made us feel part of the wider film community, and has been of great help to the many community residents in Tower Hamlets engaging in film related activity.” Africa at the Pictures said, “ELMII has helped our organisation to strengthen and develop our fundraising strategies particularly with the European Commission as well as developing and strengthening partnerships with other local organisations. In addition to organising fundraising surgeries for Africa at the Pictures, the staff has provided invaluable support in identifying potential partners as well as developing our marketing and publicity plans for east London an area with a significant number of African and African Caribbean audiences.”
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