Midlands Spotlight - Birmingham Film Market
There’s a brand new West Midlands organisation in town and it’s hoping to provide an innovative platform for filmmakers in the region. Midlands Movies editor Mike Sales finds out more about this exciting new project.
The Birmingham Film Market is a recent creative development which will provide opportunities for Midlands-based filmmakers and investment and distribution bodies to connect and close production deals.
From completed films, films in development or production stage, as well as film concepts – the BFM want to give more stories the chance to be told in their best way possible.
And in conjunction with the Birmingham Film Festival, now in its 6th year, the inaugural BIRMINGHAM FILM MARKET will take place later this year on 26th November 2021.
“There’s never been a tougher time for the creative sector. It’s even harder for emerging and regional talent to get their projects developed, financed and produced”, say the BFM.
The team behind the project includes Sophie Ivanova - an award winning producer, actor and owner of Inspirit Productions Ltd. Sophie has worked closely with several film bodies in the Midlands towards the mutual goal of strengthening the film infrastructure in the region.
In addition, there’s also actor, writer and producer at Emmeline Productions, Louise Osbourne, who runs the Acting For Screen school in Birmingham. And rounding out the team is Melissa Donello who brings a decade of indie filmmaking and over twenty-five years business management experience as co-owner of TestaRossa Productions.
They add, “As filmmakers ourselves, the BFM team know just how hard it can be to get your project in the hands of the gatekeepers. We want to help build connections and create opportunities, injecting fresh and inclusive voices into the UK film and television industry, stimulating growth and investment”.
Taking place on Friday 26th of November at the historic Grand Hotel, The Birmingham Film Market is a one day commercial network and pitch event linking filmmakers and producers with acquisition teams, production companies and distributors.
With places are strictly limited to no more than fifty filmmakers who register their projects, pending a selection process and one-to-one consultation with our team, the attendees can pitch up to three projects during the event.
The BLM end by saying, “We can't do this without every little help we can get. This may be our first year, but we are determined to make it BIG. We are bringing together all of our resources, knowledge, skills and time to make this happen. By supporting the BFM, you are supporting the build of a stronger network and infrastructure for film and TV in Birmingham, and paving the future of local filmmakers and talent”.
And we couldn’t agree more here at Midlands Movies. For more information check out the video at the top of this page and also their official website at https://birminghamfilmmarket.co.uk
