Smith & Herbert podcast to offer valuable film industry insight

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 19, 2022. Posted in General Interest

Two industry experts have joined forces to create a podcast for emerging film talent. The new venture - titled Smith & Herbert: Inside Film - will be hosted by film finance strategist Emma Louise Smith and BBC Sport commentator turned film industry advisor Garry Herbert MBE. The pair’s new project aims to inspire and champion emerging talent across the film business, interviewing established industry figures and in turn dispensing knowledge and advice to the next generation of filmmakers.

Gyllenhaal and Ritchie thriller doubles Spain for Afghanistan

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 18, 2022. Posted in Production News

A new collaboration between director Guy Ritchie and actor Jake Gyllenhaal is set to shoot in Spain’s Alicante area. In turn, the Spanish region will double as Afghanistan for the war-themed action-thriller. The as-yet-untitled project is budgeted at an estimated USD55 million. MGM and Amazon have respectively completed separate deals for US and international rights.

New Jersey governor boosts film tax credit scheme

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 17, 2022. Posted in Incentive News

New Jersey’s tax incentive programme is set to expand under the stewardship of governor Phil Murphy. The new legislation will increase the state’s support cap from USD10 million to USD30 million. The scheme also promises to augment the state’s entire production tax incentive programme by an additional USD100 million over the next few years. These recent developments represent important efforts to entice more film and television production to the Garden State.

Producers Guild Awards postponed until March

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 14, 2022. Posted in Awards and Festivals

The global rise in Omnicron cases has caused the Producers Guild of America (PGA) to delay its 33rd Producers Guild Awards ceremony. Originally scheduled for 26 February, the event will now take place on 19 March. While the venue - Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel - remains the same, the postponement represents another calendar change for the movie awards season. Attendees will need to provide proof of vaccination and booster (if eligible) as well as a recent negative COVID-19 test.  

Berlinale to remain in-person as European Film Market goes virtual

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 12, 2022. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Officials have confirmed that the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival will remain an in-person event. Although the European Film Market (EFM) - which typically runs alongside the Berlinale - is now taking place as fully virtual event, organisers have told the global film community that the core festival will continue as planned from 10th to 20th February. Strict protocols will be put in place to protect delegates from Covid-19, with the precise terms to be revealed shortly.

France's infrastructure boost generates private investment worth EUR160 million

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 11, 2022. Posted in Production News

France’s Centre National du Cinema (CNC) launched an ambitious funding initiative in July 2021. Buoyed by the global popularity of works such Lupin and Emily in Paris on Netflix, the Gallic national film body invested approximately EUR10 million into eight studios and 12 digital facilities. An estimated EUR160 million in private investment has since been drawn into France thanks to the CNC’s initial funding boost, which was designed to “shock and modernise” the country's media production infrastructure.

Ten global cities announced for Gerety Awards 2022

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 10, 2022. Posted in Awards and Festivals

The Gerety Awards has announced the ten international cities that its ambassadors will meet in 2022. London will feature alongside New York, São Paulo, México city, Copenhagen, Moscow, Brussels, Vienna, Manila and Tokyo. The full executive jury from each city will be revealed very soon. As well as defining the overall shortlist, these juries will choose the agency and production company of the year from their respective countries.

British Film Commission develops Production Guild of Great Britain partnership with GBP100,000 training investment

Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 7, 2022. Posted in General Interest

The British Film Commission (BFC) is extending its partnership with The Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) through a secondary injection of funding. Under a campaign to support the government-backed Stage Space Support and Development Strategy, the BFC will invest a further GBP100,000 towards targeted PGGB training courses. The collaboration is designed to increase access opportunities for experienced and diverse crew as new stage space continues to expand in the UK.