£1.8 million fund breathes life into east London film

East London’s film and television 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 television industry. Key elements of the project include short filmmaking 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, 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 into 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 from an investment of 56% by a raft of key partners.
Adrian Wootton, Film London 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 television 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, 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’.
(GB)