CREATIVE INDUSTRIES MINISTER VISITS BIRMINGHAM TO MAKE FIRST KEYNOTE SPEECH ON FILM

Creative Industries and Tourism minister, Shaun Woodward MP, visited Birmingham on Tuesday (13 June) to make his first keynote speech on film and television.

Speaking at an industry dinner hosted by the city's new film office, FILM Birmingham, Mr Woodward described the strength of Britain's film industry as a source of pride and emphasised that creating the conditions for production, distribution and exhibition to thrive in an increasingly digitised environment will be the key to the future.

Mr Woodward praised Birmingham City Council's commitment to film, and announced a new online locations initiative from FILM Birmingham and Screen West Midlands (SWM).

He said:
"I would like to praise FILM Birmingham and Screen West Midlands'
"city-region" approach to the development and support of our film and television industry. Birmingham as the economic and cultural hub of the region is acting as a catalyst for growth through-out the West Midlands."
The online locations library, to be launched over the summer, will provide local, national and international filmmakers with locations support and quick access to the city-region's backdrops. The service will also include a specialist locations managers' training scheme coordinated by SWM and film-friendly training by FILM Birmingham for local authorities within the region.
Suzie Ralph, Director, FILM Birmingham, said:
"The launch of the joint locations initiative shows our continued commitment to making Birmingham and the region film friendly. We are enjoying unprecedented growth in our film industry and this new online service is designed to attract continued interest from filmmakers across the globe."
Lee Thomas, Head of Production and Development at Screen West Midlands, said:
"
This is a hugely welcome development for our Region and for producers everywhere looking for great locations. SWM's film fund is a powerful incentive to attract films such as award winning The Road to Guantanamo and the hugely popular Confetti, but a user friendly on-line data base is essential if we are to increase inward investment over the long term. We are delighted to be working on this joint initiative with our partners at FILM Birmingham who are working hard to increase the level and quality of film services in the city-region"