Creative UK

Creative UK
Founded2021 (2021)
TypeFilm, television nonprofit organisation
Headquarters32-36 College Green, Bristol, UK
Locations
Region served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Caroline Norbury, MBE[1]
Chair
Richard Haythornthwaite
Websitewww.wearecreative.uk
Formerly called
Creative England, Creative Industries Federation

Creative UK (known as Creative England from 2010 to 2021) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the creative industries in the United Kingdom. The business promotes the development of creative companies, which in turn support business across games, film, creative and digital media as well as production services. The company works in partnership with the BFI,[2] has offices in Bristol and Salford, and operates predominantly outside of the city of London.[3]

On 24 November 2021, Creative England and Creative Industries Federation combined forces under the newly formed Creative UK, having previously worked together since 2019 under the Creative UK Group. The launch coincided with updated branding across the organisation and a new tag line; Here for those who dare to imagine.

Creative UK currently supports filmmaking opportunities shortFLIX, in collaboration with Sky Arts,[4] iFeatures with the BFI and BBC Films,[5] and Breakout with Netflix.[6] These provide mentoring and funding to emerging film makers.[7]

Creative England

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Creative England logo (2010-2021)

Creative England was founded in 2010, formed by the consolidation of a number of regional screen agencies into one body[8] after the UK government dismantled the UK Film Council in 2011.[9][10] It was funded by both public and private investment and developed partnerships and collaborations with companies including Google, Facebook and KPMG, as well as local authorities, cultural bodies and universities, national government, and the European Commission. The organisation aimed to "support original storytellers, driving diversity, collaboration and growth in the creative screen industries".[11] Creative England and Microsoft launched Greenshoots in 2013, a game development competition which provides funding and market advice from industry experts to the winners.

In 2015, Creative England launched a £1m fund, used to support entrepreneurs in film, television, games and digital media in English cities and regions beyond the capital.[12]

iFeatures

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IFeatures Logo

Launched in Bristol in 2010, supported by the BBC and South West Screen, iFeatures began as a way to nurture the cities "most outstanding creative talent" as well as attract up-and-coming filmmakers from across the UK and Europe.[13] The following year, it was launched nationwide.

Since its creation, iFeatures has gone on to help fund 20 feature films, including Lady Macbeth,[14] The Levelling,[15] The Goob,[16] and, flagship film, In the Dark Half.[17]

iFeatures films with release dates
Release date Title Director(s) Notes
10 August 2012 In the Dark Half Alastair Siddons Produced with BBC Films; distributed by Verve Pictures and ContentFilm International
12 April 2013 Flying Blind Katarzyna Klimkiewicz
14 January 2014 8 Minutes Idle Matt Thorne
29 May 2015 The Goob Guy Myhill Produced with BBC Films
25 June 2015 Norfolk Martin Radich
24 June 2016 Adult Life Skills Rachel Tunnard
10 September 2016 The Levelling Hope Dickson Leach Produced with BBC Films and the BFI
28 April 2017 Lady Macbeth William Oldroyd distributed by Altitude Film Distribution
19 May 2017 Spaceship Alex Taylor
1 September 2017 God's Own Country Francis Lee Distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment
8 September 2017 Apostasy Daniel Kokotajlo Distributed by Gravitas Ventures
21 June 2018 Eaten by Lions Jason Wingard
13 July 2018 Pin Cushion Deborah Haywood
24 January 2019 The Last Tree Shola Amoo Produced with the BFI
3 October 2019 Perfect 10 Eva Riley Produced with BBC Films
4 October 2019 Make Up Claire Oakley
17 March 2021 Here Before Stacey Gregg Produced with BBC Films and Northern Ireland Screen
8 October 2022 Blue Jean Georgia Oakley https://www.wearecreative.uk/support/film-tv/ifeatures/

shortFLIX

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ShortFLIX logo

Shortflix (stylised as 'shortFLIX') is an initiative for new filmmakers aged 18–25 to make short films for broadcast on Sky Arts, its focus being those who have had fewer opportunities to get started in filmmaking, including those who are currently underrepresented in the industry.

Partnered with the BFI and National Youth Theatre,[18] shortFLIX launched in May 2017 with the first five short films exploring subjects including black gay dancehall culture in London, homophobia in an Afro-Caribbean hair salon in Sheffield and a suicidal young man in Bath. In an interview with Game of Thrones actress, Ellie Kendrick, Norbury explains that the organisation was set up "to combat the challenge that whilst talent might be everywhere, opportunity is not" adding that shortFLIX enables "talented new filmmakers from diverse backgrounds to tell their story about their community and identity".[19] The films were produced by Manchester-based production company Delaval Film.[20]

In 2020, Carrie Battram, Johnny Massahi, Danny Seymour, John Akinde, and Isabella Culver were announced as the next recipients of the scheme which also received a boost in funding from ScreenSkills, a London-based non-profit specialising in the promotion of new talent.[21]

shortFLIX films with release dates
Release date Title Director(s) Synopsis Notes
31 March 2018 Losing It Ben Robins The story of the worst drunken hook-up in the history of human sexual encounters. A twenty-something virgin finds his evening taking a turn for the weird, when his new partner shows off a rather unusual fetish.
31 March 2018 Nosebleed Luna Carmoon Nosebleed follows a pivotal week for long-time best friends Lilah and Coby, whose friendship is morphing into something far more venomous and toxic.
31 March 2018 Ladies Day Abena Taylor-Smith A young Black lesbian spends the day in an Afro-Caribbean hair salon. It’s full of fun, sheen spray, gossip and laughter, but how will she deal with the casual homophobia?
31 March 2018 Batty Boy Dior Clarke and Blain Ho Shing An uncompromising take on black gay culture, Batty Boy is told in four chapters set against homophobia and dancehall music.
31 March 2018 Together, they smoke Henry Gale A story of a depressed young man. Following a suicide attempt, he must contend with the dysfunctions of his family, a cardboard coffin, and his own anxiety in order to say goodbye to his terminally ill mother. [22]
24 April 2023 High Tide Johnny Massahi After ransacking an ancient island monastery, two siblings, now trapped in their sinking campervan, are torn apart by history, hallucination, and a sacred stone. [23]
25 April 2023 If I Die Today John Akinde David must decide if he wants to follow his friends into a life of crime, or forge a new path for himself. [24]
26 April 2023 Left Behind Carrie Battram Brothers, Samir and Harish must come to terms with the passing of their mother. [25]
27 April 2023 Offended Danny Seymour A middle-aged man embarks on his first date since the death of his wife. Set in the near future where people carry large red buzzers to press whenever they are offended. [26]

Creative Industries Federation

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Main article: Creative Industries Federation

The Creative Industries Federation was a national organisation for all the UK's creative industries, cultural education and arts. It advocated for the sector, aiming to ensure that the creative industries are central to political, economic and social decision-making.

Rebrand to Creative UK

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Having worked together under the name 'Creative UK Group', in November 2021, Creative England and Creative Industries Federation decided to merge and create 'Creative UK'.

Creative UK full logo

Breakout

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In 2022, Creative UK's Head of Film, Paul Ashton, announced a partnership with Netflix UK for first-time feature film directors called "Breakout".[27] Participants will be made up of six teams, each of which will receive £30,000 ($40,000) worth of development funding in addition to a Creative U.K. training program consisting of mentoring and residential lab events. Netflix executives will also provide support and input.[28]

Breakout logo

Following residential workshops, at least one film will be greenlit with an approximate £1.5m budget and a global launch on Netflix.[29]

In April 2023, the first "Breakout" projects were announced.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Caroline Norbury". HuffPost.
  2. ^ Hay, Lucy (10 September 2013). Writing & Selling - Thriller Screenplays. Oldcastle Books, Limited. pp. 167–. ISBN 978-1-84243-972-2.
  3. ^ Greenaway, David; Rudd, Chris D. (23 April 2014). The Business Growth Benefits of Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 141–. ISBN 978-1-137-32070-4.
  4. ^ "shortFLIX". Sky.
  5. ^ Snow, Georgia (1 June 2015). "Top regional theatres back Creative England film-writing project". The Stage. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  6. ^ Yossman, K. J. (23 February 2022). "Netflix, Creative U.K. Launch Genre Filmmaker Program 'Breakout'". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ Bloomsbury Publishing (31 July 2014). Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2015. A&C Black. pp. 786–. ISBN 978-1-4729-1239-8.
  8. ^ Burton, Alan; Chibnall, Steve (11 July 2013). Historical Dictionary of British Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 165–. ISBN 978-0-8108-8026-9.
  9. ^ Baltruschat, Doris; Erickson, Mary P. (13 April 2015). Independent Filmmaking Around the Globe. University of Toronto Press. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-1-4426-2683-6.
  10. ^ Oakley, Kate; O'Connor, Justin (22 May 2015). The Routledge Companion to the Cultural Industries. Routledge. pp. 473–. ISBN 978-1-317-53398-6.
  11. ^ Rosser, Michael (26 September 2019). "Creative England and Creative Industries Federation to merge". Screen Daily. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  12. ^ Burn-Callender, Rebecca (15 September 2015). "Creative start-ups outside London in line for £1m fund". Telegraph. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  13. ^ "South West Screen gets go ahead for new Bristol movies". BBC News. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  14. ^ Clarke, Stewart (17 May 2019). "British New Wave Rides on Market Changes".
  15. ^ Macaulay, Scott (8 September 2016). "TIFF 2016: Five Questions for The Levelling Director Hope Dickson Leach". Filmmaker Magazine.
  16. ^ "The Goob". BBC Films. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  17. ^ "In the Dark Half (2012)". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018.
  18. ^ "SHORTFLIX - NEW FILM INITITATIVE FROM CREATIVE ENGLAND, NYT AND SKY ARTS | National Youth Theatre". www.nyt.org.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  19. ^ Youngs, Ian (21 September 2017). "Game of Thrones' Ellie Kendrick wants to open up 'closed shop' film industry". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  20. ^ Film, Delaval. "Delaval Film". Delaval Film. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  21. ^ Messner, Thomas (10 January 2020). "Five new UK talents receive £10k each from Creative England's Shortflix initiative". Screen. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  22. ^ "ShortFLIX".
  23. ^ "TV24".
  24. ^ "TV24".
  25. ^ "TV24".
  26. ^ "TV24".
  27. ^ Grater, Tom (23 February 2022). "Netflix Teams With Creative UK To Launch Emerging Filmmaker Initiative: At Least One Debut Feature Will Receive £1.5M Production Budget". Deadline. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  28. ^ Tabbara, Mona (23 February 2022). "Netflix, Creative UK launch debut filmmaking initiative Breakout". Screen. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  29. ^ Tabbara, Mona (23 February 2022). "Netflix, Creative UK launch debut filmmaking initiative Breakout". Screen. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  30. ^ Tabbara, Mona (6 April 2023). "Netflix and Creative UK's debut filmmaking scheme Breakout unveils first projects (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
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