Liverpool Film Office heads to Cannes Film Festival

Liverpool City Council's Film Office will be meeting with international film industry professionals at Cannes this year, to promote Liverpool's diverse filming locations as well as its first class facilities and creative talent.
Head of the Film Office Lynn Saunders is flying out on Thursday May 12 with colleagues from North West Vision, the agency set up to promote filming in the region.
Commenting on her trip to Cannes, Saunders said: "Producers and directors from around the world travel to Cannes with the intention of finding locations to film their next project. I will be pitching Liverpool to them.
"As well as fabulous locations, Liverpool now has its own film studios and a talented base of local crew. We have a huge choice of creative talent available from internationally known actors to fabulous set designers.
"We are developing a world wide reputation as a great place to come and make movies. It is vital we capitalise on that - and Cannes is the place to do it."
North West Vision will be promoting its Merseyside Film and TV Fund (MFTVF), primarily made up of Objective One money from Europe. The fund has already been beneficial in creating jobs and bringing investment into the region, including the ITV1 series 'Big Dippers', starring Jimmy Nesbitt.
Accompanying the delegation will be five of Liverpool's finest up and coming filmmakers. Supported by North West Vision and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the filmmakers will get a chance to showcase their work and network with industry professionals.
Councillor Warren Bradley, executive member for leisure and culture, said: "The film industry in Liverpool is thriving and it is essential that the city builds upon the infrastructure which is now in place.
"Cannes is the film industry's biggest trade event and if the city wants to attract more producers and directors to Liverpool then the Film Office can't afford not to be there."
(GB)