Latest news with #NorthernIrelandScreen
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast named ‘city of film' at Cannes industry awards ceremony
Belfast has been named 'City of Film' while Northern Ireland Screen was presented with a Special Recognition Award. The awards were presented at the Global Production Awards, held during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
BBC supports 50 Independent Companies to invest in TV & Radio Production across the UK
As part of the BBC's commitment to supporting the creative industries in all four nations and boosting production capabilities to deliver the most distinctive content for audiences, the BBC has today confirmed the independent production companies that will receive bespoke mentoring and over £1.7m in investment over the next year. In total, 50 indies will receive support across three dedicated schemes: the TV Small Indie Fund, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme and the BBC Radio & Music Indie Development Fund. All recipients of these funds receive strategic investment, mentors from the commissioning teams across TV and Radio, and a programme of introductions to wider BBC teams, to help them grow and develop their ideas. Launched in 2020, the TV Small Indie Fund supports the growth of small independent production companies from across the UK with turnovers below £10m across Drama, Comedy, Film, Entertainment, Factual, Daytime and Children's. Exceeding the original budget of £1m, this year 33 companies will be supported through the fund and receive a total of c £1.3m. The TV Small Indie Fund continues to focus support for companies based in the Nations & Regions with 76% of companies based outside of London, with 3 in both the West Midlands, and the North East. The 2025 cohort also sees the highest ever number of diverse-led producers – with 79% of companies having at least two individuals in specific leadership roles from one of the following under-represented groups: Black, Asian or minority ethnic, Disabled and/or Working class. First piloted in 2022, the Hot House co-commissioning scheme is a joint initiative between BBC Unscripted and BBC Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen, aimed at growing network production capacity in the region. The initiative provides Northern Ireland indies with advice and support from the network and Northern Ireland commissioning teams, and slate development funding to help them compete for BBC network factual commissions and BBC NI/ BBC network co-commissions. Eight Northern Irish independent companies have now been chosen to receive £25k from the BBC, with the opportunity to apply for match funding from Northern Ireland Screen. The companies will focus their development work in three discrete Network genres – Documentaries, Factual Entertainment and Daytime & Early Peak. Now in its third year, BBC Radio's Indie Development Fund supports and champions indies who are based across the UK. This year for the first time, the 11 successful indies can work with commissioning teams across BBC Music or Speech, receiving support and insights from the entire audio division, not just one radio station. All the recipients of the Radio Indie Development Fund, worth £250k in total, are based outside of London and more than half (55%) are run by a diverse leadership team. In addition, in the context of challenges across the industry we will be providing a series of monthly online insight sessions aimed at all smaller producers. These will include business and editorial sessions accessible to everyone to engage with the BBC's strategy and resources. Details will be sent out via our usual channels. David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Content, said: 'In a global market which continues to see production consolidation, we remain committed to investing in new and smaller Independent businesses and the UK's creative industries. We want to ensure our audiences get to enjoy the very best homegrown storytelling, for which investment in the roots of production across the UK is vital.' Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland, said: 'The second phase of the Hot House scheme is now well under way with our network commissioning colleagues and Northern Ireland Screen and it's been fantastic to see the passion and ambition that Northern Ireland independents have brought to the table. That eight separate local companies are now moving forward and benefitting from the scheme is a great thing for them and the creative industries here in Northern Ireland.' Matimba Kabalika, Executive Producer, B-Side Production, said: 'The support of the Small Indie Fund has been invaluable to B-Side and we are excited to have received our first greenlight from the Drama commissioning team, a co-production with Mam-Tor, for Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. Having Produced Caleb's debut short film Pray, with the support of BBC Film it is a full-circle moment and proof of the value of that the fund gives.' Anton Inwood, Founder & Creative Director, Acclaimed Content, said: "We are very excited to be joining BBC's Small Indie Fund cohort. This initiative has propelled so many upcoming indies on to great things after the fantastic support from the BBC. Acclaimed Content is next up." Companies selected for the 2025 TV Small Indie Fund: Northern Ireland Deadpan Nice one Blackthorn Wales Riot Time Red Seam Cardiff Productions Kailash Films Scotland barry crerar Scotland & NI Studio Something Flabbergast Rogan (Scotland base) English Regions Candle & Bell Limited - North East Northern Child – North East Schnoobert Productions Limited – North East Button Down – Yorkshire & The Humber ClockWork Films – Yorkshire & The Humber Public Dreams Ltd – Yorkshire & The Humber / London CosmoSquare - Yorkshire & The Humber Abbotvision Productions – North West, (Manchester Base) The Fold– North West Common Story – West Midlands Acclaimed Content – West Midland Rural Studios – West Midlands Chalk Productions – South East Slate Works – South East London 104 Films B-Side Production Juno Lunar Nico Them Ones Three Tables Productions Turnover Films Companies selected for the BBC Radio & Music Indie Development Fund: Scotland: Feral Inc Dabster Productions The Big Light Wales: Bengo Media Songbird Northern Ireland: Walk on Air Films England: Voxwave – West Midlands Peanut & Crumb – South East Silver Music Entertainment – East Candle & Bell Ltd – North East Zandland – North West Companies selected for the Hot House unscripted co-commissioning scheme in Northern Ireland: Daytime Alleycats TV Below the Radar Rare TV Documentaries B&C Films Blair Black Walk on Air Films Factual Entertainment Afro-Mic AlleycatsTV Stellify Media EDA
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will it be luck of the Irish for local Bafta nominees?
The west Belfast rap group Kneecap will find out on Sunday if it has bagged a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta). The Irish-language film has been nominated in six categories. The film is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the band was formed. Among other Irish talent nominated is actress Saoirse Ronan, and the Irish-produced Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. Coverage of the ceremony, which is being hosted by actor David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall in London, will run from 19:00 GMT until 21:00. Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. The film was written and directed by Rich Peppiatt and stars bandmates Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh (Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), and also stars Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender. The group was formed in 2017 by the three friends. Speaking at the pre awards event, the band said it would be a "coup" for an Irish language film to win a British award and added that the last year had felt like "blink and you'll miss it". They said being nominated for a Bafta was a win in itself. Peppiatt was asked about a possible Kneecap 2 being on the cards and he jokingly said, "Bridget Jones has just released her fourth". The film gas been nominated for Outstanding Debut, Original Screenplay, Casting, Film Not in the English Language, Editing, and Outstanding British Film categories. It has already won seven British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and other accolades. In November rap group won its discrimination case against the UK government over a decision by Kemi Badenoch to withdraw an arts grant when she was serving as a cabinet minister. Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen extended the organisation's congratulations to the team behind the Kneecap film. "This well-deserved recognition celebrates the creativity, hard work, and dedication that went into bringing such a unique and powerful story to life," he told BBC News NI. "We are immensely proud of the filmmakers and the spotlight this shines on the remarkable talent and vibrant storytelling emerging from Northern Ireland." Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for Leading Actress for her role in the drama The Outrun. The film is about a young woman returning to her home in Orkney in Scotland to deal with her past, and her addictions. Ronan says she learned lambing for the role. She's up against Wicked's Cynthia Erivo and Demi Moore (The Substance), among others. The Irish-produced Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice is nominated in three categories: Leading Actor, Supporting Actor and Casting. Ruth Treacy and Julianne Forde, from Tailored Films, said they were "incredibly honoured". "This recognition underpins the huge support that the film received in the UK and Ireland on its release," they said. "We're very proud that Irish film and talent is represented so well with the nominations across the board this weekend. "Let's hope the green wave continues gaining strength in the year ahead." You can watch this year's Baftas on BBC One and iPlayer.
BBC News
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kneecap: Will it be luck of the Irish for local Bafta nominees?
The west Belfast rap group Kneecap will find out on Sunday if it has bagged a British Academy of Film Award (BAFTA).The Irish-language film has been nominated in six film is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the band was other Irish talent nominated is actress Saoirse Ronan, and the Irish-produced Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. The awards ceremony, which is being hosted by actor David Tennant, is taking place between 19:00 GMT - 22:00 GMT at the Royal Festival Hall in London. 'Quite funny' Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and film was written and directed by Rich Peppiatt and stars bandmates Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh (Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), and also stars Oscar-nominated actor Michael group was formed in 2017 by the three ahead of the awards ceremony, the band described it as "quite funny" to be nominated for six categories for an award that celebrates the best British contributions to film."We were never in any doubt, and we never are when it comes to the art we create," they told BBC News film's been nominated for Outstanding Debut, Original Screenplay, Casting, Film Not in the English Language, Editing, and Outstanding British Film already won seven British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and other accolades. The rap group won its discrimination case against the UK government over a decision by then minister Kemi Badenoch to withdraw an arts grant in November 2024. 'Immensely proud' Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: "I want to extend our huge congratulations to the entire team behind Kneecap on its incredible achievement. "This well-deserved recognition celebrates the creativity, hard work, and dedication that went into bringing such a unique and powerful story to life," he told BBC News NI. "We are immensely proud of the filmmakers and the spotlight this shines on the remarkable talent and vibrant storytelling emerging from Northern Ireland," he added. 'The green wave' Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for Leading Actress for her role in the drama The film is about a young woman returning to her home in Orkney to deal with her past, and her says she learned lambing for the role. She's up against Wicked's Cynthia Erivo and Demi Moore (The Substance), among Irish-produced Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice is nominated in three categories: Leading Actor, Supporting Actor and Treacy and Julianne Forde, from Tailored Films, said they are "incredibly honoured"."This recognition underpins the huge support that the film received in the UK and Ireland on its release. "We're very proud that Irish film and talent is represented so well with the nominations across the board this weekend. "Let's hope the green wave continues gaining strength in the year ahead!"You can watch this year's BAFTAs on BBC One and iPlayer.
