Creative Scotland has announced a new £3 million fund for broadcast content and has revealed the new identity for new screen body, Screen Scotland.

Also announced are the highest ever Film and TV production spend figures for Scotland.

The new £3million Broadcast Content Fund aims to support the development and production of “distinctive high-quality projects for television broadcast, digital broadcast and streaming platforms that promote Scotland’s culture, creativity and diversity to the world.” The fund is open to Scottish-based production companies and will make development and production awards of between £10,000-£500,000.
 
Screen Scotland is backed with £20million from Scottish Government and the National Lottery. Screen Scotland will provide the” funding and support that will continue to drive cultural, social and economic development for Scotland’s burgeoning screen sector.”

The new website www.screen.scot holds details of funding and support.

Creative Scotland has also just released the latest available figures showing that spend on film and TV in Scotland in 2017 reached £95 million – the highest level since records began – and a £26 million increase on the previous year. Over the past decade, spend has increased more than 300%.
 
Film and TV productions shot in Scotland last year include Avengers: Infinity War, Outlaw King, Outlander, Patrick Melrose, Mary Queen Of Scots, The Cry, The Victim, Tell It To The Bees, Freedom Fields, Keepers, Aquarela, Wild Rose, Ordeal By Innocence, We Don’t Talk About Love, Anna And The Apocalypse, Beats, Only You, The Party’s Just Beginning.

Robert Wilson, Chair of Creative Scotland said: “I’m enormously proud to be announcing this significant moment in the development of Scotland’s screen sector. As a result of the determination and focus of all our partners, the hard work of our dedicated team, and the incredible support of the Scottish Government and the National Lottery, we are another step closer to delivering a strong and confident sector for the benefit of all.

“Building on the sector’s achievements to date, these latest announcements deliver further on the promise to increase funding, build stronger relationships at home, in the wider UK and internationally, increase capacity within Screen Scotland, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success.
 
“I firmly believe that Screen Scotland’s identity offers a clear and distinct brand that will resonate with the sector and our national and international partners.
 
“With Isabel Davis joining us to lead Screen Scotland in a matter of weeks,
David Mackenzie’s Outlaw King opening Toronto International Film Festival, the extraordinary feature documentary Aquarela receiving its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival next month, as well as record levels of production spend in Scotland, these are truly exciting times for Scotland’s screen sector.”
 
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs said: “I’m delighted to welcome Screen Scotland, a vital component in our wider vision for Scotland’s screen sector.
 
“It aims to attract, retain and develop talent and businesses in Scotland. There is new and enhanced funding and support that puts Scotland on a par with other nations. The new Broadcast Content Fund will invest £3m in our TV sector to provide it with the targeted financial backing it needs to develop.
 
“Scotland has the talent and the opportunity to grow its TV sector and the job of Screen Scotland is to make sure we seize the moment.”
 
Today’s announcement follows the recent appointment of three new Board members, Elizabeth Partyka, David Strachan and Ewan Angus.
 

Jon Creamer

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