Screen Yorkshire has been running for over ten years, with an aim to not only provide support for Britain within the film industry, but to make Humber and Yorkshire the most sought after destination for productions in the UK. Investments made by Screen Yorkshire are purposely made to develop talent and content in specific films they target. This is the largest organisation in the UK that invests in content (£15 million). Investments are made on market rate commercial terms with an intention to make sure investment returns are going to produce a legacy fund to support the development of content and production for TV and Film in Yorkshire.
Screen Yorkshire also run highly regarded talent schemes, such as 'The List' and 'Triangle'. The idea behind these schemes is to encourage national and regional talent to progressively excel in the TV and Film industries.
Examples of Screen Yorkshire Production:
- Wuthering Heights
- Kill List
- A Passionate Woman
- The Damned United
- Tyrannosaur
- Red Riding
- This is England '86
Film 4 started out as a production company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation in 1982. It was initially responsible for the production of films with in the UK and across the world. It was originally known as 'FilmFour' to coincide and support the launch of channel 4. In 2002 it was made available to a larger range of customers, instead of just being on the market for subscription to people with SKY and digital terrestrial via ITV. Cuts were then made towards the end of 2002 as Film4 couldn't compete against Hollywood, this meant a decrease in budget (£30 million to £10 million) and a loss of 50 jobs. In 2006 the channel re-launched as 'Film4 Productions' the channel then became free, which boosted viewers from 300,000 subscribers to 18 million households. Broadcasting hours were then increased, and advert breaks during the films would then occur. The original idea for Film4 was that it didn't broadcast big Hollywood blockbusters, however nowadays do. Film4+1 was dropped in August 2007 on satellite, cable and freeview and then replaced with channel 4+1, however then returned in August 2013.
Examples of Film4 Productions:
- Never Let Me Go
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Dead Mans Shoes
- The Lovely Bones
- The Inbetweeners Movie
- Dr.Easy
- 12 Years a Slave
Studio Canal was founded in 1999, which established a reputation for an innovative approach to distribution with in the film industry in the UK. With an aim to work collectively with filmmakers to achieve brilliant results. It is one of Europe’s leading companies in the market for co-production, acquisition, distribution and sale of international feature films. This is the only company which has three main territories in Europe (Germany, UK and France). Studio Canal distribute more than 50 films a year across Europe, and owns one of the most important libraries in the world, which itself holds over 5,000 titles.
Examples of Films Distributed via Studio Canal:
- Drug War
- Rush
- Robocop
- In Fear
- Non-Stop
- Alan Partidge - Alpha Papa
- The Bling Ring
Warp Films is an independent institution in the UK, with a secondary company Warp Films Australia, based in Melbourne. It was officially founded by Warp Records (Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett). When created, Warp Films gained financial support from NESTA and had to remit and produce a selection of short films. The first short film created - 'My Wrongs' (2002) which then went on to win a BAFTA in 2003, following that then became the first short film DVD single in the UK. Warp Films have worked alongside Channel 4 and Screen Yorkshire numerous times to create films that they feel will turn out successful nationally.
Examples of Warp Film Productions:
- Dog Altogether
- Hush
- Curtains
- Four Lions
- The Midnight Beast
- Grow Your Own
- Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo
