An investment package for the Welsh film sector has been announced today by the Welsh Government.
The new £1m per annum fund aims to boost the number and variety of productions made in Wales, create quality jobs in the sector and generate at least £12bn for the Welsh economy.
The scheme will run for a initial period of two years and is available for film intended for theatrical release.
Film productions can apply for the funding in July.
Development agency Ffilm Cymru Wales will administer the funding on behalf of the Welsh Government’s creative agency, Creative Wales.
Up to £600,000 will be available per project for eligible films, with up to £400,000 grant funding from Creative Wales and up to £200,000 via Ffilm Cymru lottery funds - which they administer on behalf of the Arts Council of Wales.
Funding will be targeted at companies that are passionate about training and upskilling, are implementing the latest practices in sustainable production and have well-being of cast, crew and employees at the forefront.
Support is also being prioritised towards content that shows the best of Wales to the world, in culture, language, geography and storytelling.
Those productions receiving the fund will be expected to spend a proportion of their budget in Wales on Welsh talent, crew, facilities and locations.
Companies must also commit to providing trainee opportunities in the form of paid placements, which will be tracked and monitored to ensure future careers pathways for all trainees.
In the last two years, more than 150 trainees have benefitted from paid placements on Creative Wales-supported productions.
The Welsh Government said at least £12m will be generated for the Welsh economy across the initial two years of the arrangement, providing a post-Covid pandemic boost for Wales' community of creatives, cast, crew, services and facilities.
The funding package was announced today by the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, during an address to Wales’ first Screen Summit in Cardiff's Parkgate Hotel.
Ms Bowden, said: “Since its inception, Creative Wales has been reviewing its approach to improving and enhancing its support for TV and film production, with a new production funding offer for TV and games also now available. This new and improved investment package for film is next in a suite of improved investments for the sector.
“This new approach to film will boost film production in Wales, stimulating growth in the number and variety of productions made in Wales, whilst also maximising the economic impact on the local economy, improve employment opportunities, further support the development of a skilled workforce, and further demonstrate the excellence of Wales on screen through our world-class talent, crews, facilities and unique locations."
She added: “This unique partnership between Creative Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, following on from the recent Memorandums of Understanding with the BBC and S4C, is a further example of how our partnership approach is driving growth and talent development in the creative industries in Wales.”
The chief executive of Ffilm Cymru, Pauline Burt, said: “Having long worked directly with Welsh independent filmmakers to help bring their feature film projects to fruition, we are delighted to be collaborating with Creative Wales on our shared objectives. The production fund will continue to centre Welsh talent, whilst streamlining access to funding and tailoring the offer to producers’ and the wider sector’s needs.”
The new partnership between Ffilm Cymru and Creative Wales builds on a foundation of creative and economic collaborations that has already seen the co-funding of homegrown storytelling such as Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse and Mad as Birds Films’ forthcoming drama The Almond and the Seahorse, which was written by Kaite O'Reilly and co-directed by Celyn Jones.
