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FILM FANS TO GET EVEN MORE CHOICE
WITH UK
cinema-goers becoming more adventurous in their cinema tastes,
according to latest box office statistics, the region’s screen
agency, Northwest Vision and Media, is to offer audiences an even
greater choice. Vision and Media has pledged over £300,000 in
funding to give Northwest film fans even greater choice when they go
to the cinema.
According to the UK Film Council, people are now craving foreign
language films and specialized movies. So that’s why Vision
and Media’s annual Heritage, Access to Film and Audience Development
(HAFAD) programme is now looking for new, diverse organisations to
help deliver the sort of films Northwest audiences now demand.
"As a regional screen agency we’re well known for the work we
do supporting the Northwest’s production industry, but we also work
tirelessly to try and give the region’s audiences more choice,”
explains Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of Vision and Media, which
works on behalf of the region’s TV, film, radio and digital content
industries. “Every year we plough hundreds of thousands
of pounds into projects which give Northwest audiences an even
greater choice of what to watch when they decide to go to the
cinema. Perhaps they might want to watch a film made 100 years
ago – which has been preserved through the film archive projects we
support. Or it might mean we get more children to love cinema,
through the film education work we fund,” adds Alice.
Vision and Media also fund numerous training schemes for people
hoping to work in the film industry. “There are training
programmes held throughout the year, specifically designed to help
people get a foot in the door,” explains Alice.
“It’s through our HAFAD fund that we’re continuously developing and
supporting creativity and skills across the industry, as well as
encouraging public participation in film.”
In recent months, HAFAD funding has helped to deliver a host of
exceptional films to Northwest audiences, to which people wouldn’t
usually have access. The Oscar winner The Last King Of Scotland and
Cannes Palme d'or winner, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, were
among some of he films shown in the Northwest this year, together
with new releases such as Tell No One and Shane Ritchie's This is
England.
“Our aim has always been to develop wider audiences, increase
access and promote the Northwest as a centre of excellence for film,
television and digital content that is not only culturally diverse,
but educational and inclusive, too,” says Alice.
Last year, over £300,000 in funding was distributed to a range of
projects. This year, three core areas of activity are being
encouraged: Heritage, Access to Film and Audience Development
Projects. Cinemas that run a year-round, culturally diverse
film programme will be eligible to apply for funding of between
£5,000 and £110,000, money which will contribute to programmes that
include specialised screenings, festivals activity and film
education initiatives. Film Festivals are also offered support
through HAFAD, with Vision and Media helping to develop a
sustainable and innovative program of unique festival events within
the region.
“Through the Audience Development part of HAFAD we help to
produce a sustainable and innovative year-round program of events
across the region,” explains Alice.
Within the Heritage category of the fund, awards will be made with
attention given to finding locations (or a centralised location) in
the region for the presentation, storage and exhibition of archived
film.
The Access To Film strand of HAFAD aims to help people from
previously disadvantaged communities who have not previously had
access to filmmaking to create work of the highest quality.
Organisations will be eligible for awards of between £5,000 to
£20,000, with Vision and Media particularly looking for work that
will encourage individuals with distinct, new voices.
* The deadline for 2008/2009 applications is 1pm Monday 3 December
2007. For more details, visit the Vision and Media
website.
* Applications are
eligible from legally constituted organisations operating within
Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
* For further
information, please
email. |
Boost for medical research to drive innovation in health
THE
Medical Research Council will receive almost £2 billion to help keep
the UK at the forefront of medical advances it was announced.
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS),
John Denham, outlined how the Science Budget will be allocated for
the next 3 years, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Advances such as the discovery of penicillin, the link between
smoking and cancer and the development of MRI scanning took place in
the UK. A funding rise of 30% over the next 3 years for medical
research will provide a major boost to the impact of research on the
nation's health. A major new research programme to tackle
environmental change and more funding to help strengthen links
between business and academia to drive Britain's economic success
are also key elements in a bold new plan for science funding.
The overall Science Budget will increase from £3.4 billion per year
in 2007/8 to almost £4 billion per year by 2010/11 - taking
Government support for the UK's research base to its highest level
ever. The funding boost will ensure that the UK retains its
place as a hub for global scientific excellence, drawing in the
finest British and international research talent. It will also
further increase the economic and social impact of research, from
healing severe wounds more effectively, or helping research cures
for deadly illnesses, right through to combating credit card fraud
with new technology or developing low-carbon alternatives to help
the environment.
Mr Denham said:- "DIUS funding supports world class research
and its exploitation. We link the research base and business so that
Britain can be the best place in the world for enterprise and
innovation. My announcement will enable the UK to maintain its
world leading position in research excellence and to build up even
stronger exploitation. In doing so we will build a strong economy
and a cohesive society that can meet the global challenges of the
21st century.
Scientific discoveries have transformed the lives of all of us. This
allocation provides researchers with the resources to help translate
research into new drugs and treatments which could have an impact
right across society. This funding boost raises the impact that
science has on the economy and public services."
Key allocations include:
* Funding for a number of multi-disciplinary research programmes
including:
- a major contribution to the £1 billion programme "Living with
Environmental Change" which brings together over a dozen
organisations; and
- an exciting new research programme on "Life-Long Health and
Well Being" which explores the biological, physical,
environmental and social factors associated with the ageing process
at all stages of life;
- increased investment in key areas of national importance, such as
energy research and stem cells.
* Almost £2bn for medical research over three years to fund both
basic and translational research in line with the recommendations in
Sir David Cooksey's report on health research.
* A boost to funding for knowledge transfer programmes, including
the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) which will receive £150m
a year by 2010/11 to strengthen links between academia and business
and help take research to the market.
* £120m funding commitment from the Research Councils for
collaboration with the Technology Strategy Board to promote
strengthened links between researchers and business and the
development of innovative new technology. This forms part of the
£1bn strategy to drive business innovation and success announced on
5 October 2007 alongside the Sainsbury Review.
* Increasing the budget for the successful Science Bridges scheme to
£12m to foster stronger links with international researchers
alongside the International Fellowships run by the National
Academies. This will help forge stronger links with the US, China,
and India in particular.
* A new Capital Investment Fund is being created for universities
carrying out Research Council funded projects.
This permanent
funding stream replaces the temporary Science Research Investment
Fund programme which has successfully completed its task of making
good the backlog in investment in research infrastructure. The new
fund will help Universities maintain their research infrastructure
and avoid the backlog problem reoccurring. |
