BFI AND DCMS INVEST IN FURTHER 24 COMPANIES IN LATEST AWARDS FROM UKGSF

Four animation companies will receive awards from the UK Global Screen Fund, with the highest award going to Wild Child Animation.

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Wild Child Animation

The BFI has made 24 new awards through its UK Global Screen Fund, supporting international opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector. Financed through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the awards see a further £2,148,688 being allocated through the £7m per year fund’s International Business Development strand.

The four animation companies receiving the awards are Plug-in Media Group Ltd and members ALT Animation, Snafu Pictures and Wild Child Animation.

Financial support will provide 24 companies from all over the UK with funding via one of two tracks:

Film Transformation, for internationally-focused transformational business strategies related to independent UK films, with strategies spanning three to five years

General, for business strategies to create, acquire and/or exploit intellectual property (IP) across film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative video games, with strategies spanning three years

The funding, awarded in the form of non-repayable grants and ranging between £50,000 and £144,000 in total over the three to five year period, is focused on helping companies achieve new international business partnerships, enhance their profile and reach in the global marketplace, and increase revenue generation through export and international expansion.

Our immensely talented independent film, TV and video game companies have made a huge contribution towards British screen industries’ success on the global stage. Through this funding we are helping them grow their businesses, create jobs and export their creativity around the world – for the enjoyment of audiences and the benefit of the UK economy.

John Whittingdale, Creative Industries Minister

This latest round of awards demonstrates the quality and diversity of our incredible independent screen sector, spanning film, TV, animation and games, across the UK. The ambition of these companies in developing truly global growth strategies, and in striving to reach new international audiences, is so exciting to see, demonstrating opportunities for further growth. It is so important that we continue to build on the UK’s strength in the global content marketplace, investing to support the screen sector in reaching its full potential.

Denitsa Yordanova, BFI Head of the UK Global Screen Fund

We at Wild Child are delighted to be a named as a recipient of the UK Global Screen Fund’s international business development awards. The support will be a significant boost to our plans for the next three years, accelerating and underpinning critical expansion into the US and Global markets both as a premium animation service provider and as a producer of original content. We will be making some announcements in the coming months with regards to key roles within the business, now made possible thanks to the support of this crucial funding.

Ken Anderson, Director of Exploration & Discovery at Wild Child Animation

UK Global Screen Fund applications are now open for:

• International Business Development, closing on 6 July
• International Distribution Festival Launch Support, assessed on a rolling basis
• International Distribution Film Sales Support, assessed on a rolling basis
• The next round of UK Global Screen Fund international co-production funding will open on 3 August.

Companies to receive UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development awards, via the Film Transformation track, are:

• Barry Crerar Ltd (barry crerar)
• Cornerstone Films
• It’s A Lot Limited
• Together Films
• We Are Parable

Companies to receive UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development awards, via the General track, are:

• ALT Animation
• Brightrock Games
• Caledonia TV Productions
• Candour Productions
• Coffee Box Games, trading as Bellular Studios
• Firecrest Films
• Huey Games
• Kaizen Game Works
• Good Gate Media
• Italic Pig
• Last Conker
• Paradox House
• Plug-In Media
• Singer Interactive
• Slug Disco Studios
• Snafu Pictures
• The Bureau
• Vertigo Releasing
• Wild Child Animation

Source：UKANIMATION