Full service facility Martini Film has acquired Vancouver based production company Lighthouse Pictures. This acquisition is in line with their expansion into service and original production in film and television. The deal will keep the current Lighthouse leadership team at the helm of the company.
After months of speculation, Cannes based market MIPTV have confirmed their presence in London starting from 2025. Running alongside their London screening in February, the event will be held at the Savoy Hotel in the city as well as screening venue IET London, Savoy Place. Featuring screenings, networking events, meetings and a conference programme, the event will build on the increasing screen sector based Q1 activity.
Plans have been announced to launch a new skills training programme later this month for creatives looking to break in behind-the-camera roles in the West of England. This follows Bristol City Council’s Film Services securing almost £300,000 (£299,818) from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The programme is set to be delivered by The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol UNESCO City of Film and Bristol Film Office.
Screen Cornwall released their first economic impact figures reporting the local film and television industry GBP 5 million worth to the economy last year. In addition, the screen agency received a funding boost of almost GBP 400,000 driving growth for the local screen sector and extending to its outreach and talent development programme.
On Friday 23 June, the 70th edition of Cannes Lions came to a close with a night of celebrations and the daily announcement of the final winners for the celebration. Across the Palais and spreading to the beach, this year’s celebration spotlighted the importance of conversation and the value of diversity and inclusivity in the creative media space. As ideas were shared and projects awarded across the weekly updated categories, the variety of thought was a welcomed new wave in the advertising space for another successful year.
The casting for Disney+ much anticipated 8-part series Rivals, based on the much loved novel by Jilly Cooper, was announced on 21 March. Set against the backdrop of 1980’s England, the series will feature the same drama and success of the social elite featured in it’s original source inspiration. Produced by Happy Prince, which is a part of ITV Studios, the series will be filming at The Bottle Yard Studios’ new TBY2 facility.
Image courtesy of Fifth Season FIFTH SEASON has announced the appointment of Jennifer Ebell to an expanded role of EVP EMEA Sales. This is a promotion from her previous role as SVP of EMEA Sales. In addition to this, the company has also acquired new hires from BBC Studios, The Walt Disney Studios., ITV Studios and Vubiquity. These changes are apart of FIFTH SEASON’S expansion of their EMEA television distribution team, following on from the recent promotion of president of television distribution, Prentis Fraser.
Following a new lottery-funded report by Screen Cornwall and BFI, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly shows an increasing potential in the screen sector. On it’s way to becoming a “screen cluster of national significance”, the region’s impending success is credited to the recent successes in domestic independent filmmaking rooted in Cornish heritage and a skilled and growing regional crewbase. Recent projects to film in Cornwall include HBO's House of the Dragon and Hallmark's The Presence of Love.