Member Article

Writers offered chance to pitch to top execs at returning Birmingham Film & TV Market

Filmmakers, writers and producers will have the rare opportunity to pitch their projects to executives from leading international production companies at the returning Birmingham Film & TV Market.

Senior representatives from top film and TV companies including Sky Original Film, Channel 4, Curzon, Paramount +, will consider pitch proposals from delegates in one-to-one meetings for the second year running at The Grand Hotel, in Colmore Row, on Friday October 7.

Several teams of writers and filmmakers from last year’s Film & TV Market have not only created meaningful relationships with leading companies, some have gone on to secure finance for their projects. Filmmakers have until August 31 to submit their projects for 2022’s event.

The 2021 Market received positive feedback from both writers and producers, giving the team behind the event the confidence to build on its success to further increase opportunities for under-represented voices outside of London.

The Film & TV Market is open to anyone with developed feature length film, long form TV or TV series projects. Filmmakers need to complete a simple application form on the Film & TV Market website, which is then reviewed by the event organisers to progress to the in-person pitch stage in October.

The Birmingham Film & TV Market team believe the event will help build film industry investment in the Midlands and grow support for local talent to develop content for top producers.

Among the production company decision makers lined up for 2022 are representatives from Sky Original Film, Channel 4 and streaming giant Paramount+, who are all attending for the first time. Alongside them are the likes of Curzon, House Productions, Independent Entertainment, First Flights, Fullwell 73, Eccho Rights and Goldfinch.

The organisers are working to a five-year plan to raise the profile of the Midlands within the global film and TV industries. The Birmingham Film & TV Market was set up by Sophie Ivanova, Mellissa Donello and Louise Osbourne.

Louise said: “We offer a unique opportunity for filmmakers to sit with decision makers from some of the biggest names in film and TV production, to share fresh and compelling creative content.

“We want to build on the raised profile of Birmingham following the Commonwealth Games to grow our local film and TV industry.”

Sophie Ivanova said: “The success of the 2021 Film & TV Market has allowed us to establish new partnerships to grow our network, reaching out to international industry leaders to create the infrastructure for more talent outside of London to be heard. We have established a good understanding with key figures at the Cannes Film Festival which we look to build upon.”

Mellissa Donello added: “This year we have a panel of industry experts on the business side of film and TV, who will covering all the essential subjects such as finance and insurance to give priceless insights to our delegates. We have three productions from the 2021 crop already under way, which has encouraged other decision makers to come on board to tap into the talent on offer at the Birmingham Film & TV Market.”

The Birmingham Film & TV Market and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, whose other screen credits include Princess Diana biopic Spencer and forthcoming TV series Ferrari, are teaming up to find the best screenwriters in the Midlands for the 2022 Steven Knight: Make It In Birmingham Award.

Following a review of submissions via the Market website, the winning writer will get a meeting with Steven Knight to develop and support their writing future, a full day pass to the market day on 7th October and an exclusive award trophy.

The 2021 Film & TV Market saw actress Jaime Winstone, who played Barbara Windsor in 2017 BBC biopic Babs and whose film credits include Tomb Raider and Made In Dagenham, attend as a partner to lend her support.

Speaking after the event last November Jaime said: “It has been great to see such diverse people meet in the same room to share ideas and creativity. There has been a real buzz. Birmingham has a lot of creativity but its TV and film industry is not as well-established as other leading UK cities. Events like the Film & TV Market make a big difference and I am excited to see what comes out of the conversations taking place.”

This year the BFTM is being supported by Alliotts Accountants, Performance Film & Media Insurance, Reviewed and Cleared Media Lawyers, Creative UK, Bootcamp Media and Start Electrical.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Leggett .