LIVERPOOL FILM OFFICE UNVEILS FIRST TRANCHE OF DEVELOPMENT FUND AWARDS
Liverpool-based company Heroic is to adapt Nizrana Farook’s acclaimed debut novel The Girl Who Stole an Elephant into an animated TV series with backing from Liverpool Film Office.
A co-production between Heroic and Blue Bear Film & Television, this engaging, joyous children’s adventure will be adapted by local BAFTA and Emmy-winning writer, Helen Blakeman (Dustbin Baby, Hetty Feather).
The Girl … is one of 15 projects so far to be supported by the Film Office’s Film & TV Development Fund that was set up in response to COVID-19, using funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
More than £158,000 worth of funding has been awarded to a mix of established local producers such as Lime Pictures, Hurricane Films and Leopard Pictures, as well as work from newer female and BAME-led companies such as Pencil Trick Productions and Redbag Pictures.
- Hurricane Films will use the funding to support its first foray into TV drama, working with writer Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn, Hollyoaks) on the high concept, Liverpool-set mystery horror series 12 Canning Square. The company is also developing The Last Date, a follow-up to its upcoming feature film release The Last Bus starring Timothy Spall, and also scripted by Joe Ainsworth (Holby City).
- Pencil Trick Productions is co-developing YA female football-themed TV drama Lily with Tigerlily Productions and Liverpool Everyman alumni, Lizzie Nunnery. It is also in early development on Gavin Scott Whitfield’s debut feature film Spent Light. The company is a recent recipient of a sought-after British Film Institute (BFI) Vision Award for emerging producers.
- Sefton-based Redbag Pictures’ producer Barrington Paul Robinson is assembling a slate of BAME-led projects including upcoming theatre writer/director Nathan Powell’s comedy-drama feature film Belly Full, set in and around a Caribbean takeaway. Robinson is also part of BFI NETWORK’s inaugural Insight programme for emerging producers working towards their debut feature.
Other Liverpool-based talent under commission through the Fund include writer/directors Helen Walsh (The Violators) and Daniel Fitzsimmons (Native), both of whom are developing second feature films; documentarian Martin Wallace and TV writer Roanne Bardsley (Hollyoaks, Free Rein).
Reaction
Writer Helen Blakeman commented: “As I enter the sixth and final series of my BBC Drama, Hetty Feather, I’m really excited to dive into an entirely new field with an animated adventure. The Development Fund has enabled Heroic to realise a long-held ambition to grow our own slate of imaginative screen content here in the City Region.”
Producer Barrington Paul Robinson commented: “The Development Fund’s support shows how heavily committed Liverpool Film Office and the LCR Combined Authority are to supporting a diverse range of indigenous creative talent.”
Chris Moll, Fund Advisor for the LCR Film & TV Development Fund commented:
“The awards announced today demonstrate the breadth and depth of talent in the Liverpool City Region’s screen sector. It also shows a determination to face down the challenges posed by COVID-19 and to bring forward a pipeline of new content that can create jobs and investment for local crew and businesses as production resumes over the coming months.
The Fund remains open until 30 September and we continue to welcome approaches, particularly from regionally based writers looking to forge new collaborations, and from producers committed to developing creative talent from the BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.”
Producer Jennifer Monks commented:
“The fast-tracked support we received from Liverpool Film Office, from application to greenlight is exactly what we needed. The Development Fund is very much aligned with our own ambitions at Pencil Trick – to showcase the best of exciting Liverpool City Region talent both on and off screen.”
Producer Sol Papadopoulos commented:
“As a Liverpool-based independent film company, we applaud the development fund initiative from Liverpool Film Office & Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It was great to see it realised in such a short time frame to support the local independent film & TV sector in such unprecedented times.”
Awards made to date:
| COMPANY | PROJECT TITLE |
| Pencil Trick Productions | Spent Light |
| Hurricane Films | 12 Canning Square |
| Dynamo Content | Superheroes of Science |
| Glasshouse Productions | Detention |
| Leopard Pictures | L17 |
| Pencil Trick Productions/Tiger Lily | Lily |
| Heroic Books | The Girl Who Stole An Elephant |
| Hurricane Films | The Last Date |
| Crocodile Media | Untitled Documentary |
| Nova Inc Film & Television | Reconstructing Ron |
| Potboiler Productions | Untitled Feature Film |
| Redbag Pictures | Belly Full |
| Lime Pictures | Untitled TV Drama |
| Clare Coombes Productions | Girl Boy |
| White Star/Hurricane Films | Brass |
