Cornwall Film Launches New Funding Scheme

Cornwall Film has launched a brand new funding scheme - the Innovation Fund.
The scheme can offer investment of up to £10,000 in projects that bring together two or more local businesses and freelancers to develop an innovative project or product.
Pippa Best, Project Director at Cornwall Film, commented: “The world wide web and advances in digital media offer great opportunities for businesses and freelancers in Cornwall to develop new content and to explore new ways of making their work available to a wider audience – this scheme aims to support and encourage growth in these areas.”
Cornwall Film has appointed Project Manager Jessica Smalley at Digital Peninsula Network to project manage the Innovation Fund.
Smalley commented: “The Innovation Fund offers the new media, film and TV sector a chance to research and develop really creative new business ideas. Ideas should be developed around the key theme of innovation and should explore new ways of developing or distributing content, the use/application of new technology, new business models, access to new markets, and innovative solutions (for example, to social inclusion or talent development).”
Successful applicants will also get support from specialist business advisors at Business Link to ensure that their idea maximises its commercial potential. Cornwall Film’s investment can be a maximum of 50% of the total project cost; of which 25% can be matched in kind; and 25% must be matched in cash. At least one partner must be based in Cornwall.
Pippa Best commented: “We are grateful to our funders SWRDA, the Rural Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Partnership, Cornwall County Council, Penwith District Council and South West Screen for supporting this unique opportunity. Together with Business Link, we aim to support the growth of Cornwall’s media sector by building partnerships between companies; overcoming barriers faced by rural businesses and driving competitiveness, innovation and enterprise.”
For more information visit: www.cornwallfilm.com
Applicants should contact Jessica to discuss their projects as soon as they can – the deadline for expressions of interest is October 30, 2006, with a full application due by November 13.
(DS/CD)