News Article
EM Media announces two new members of the team
Published: 23 March 2006
By: Sally Hodgson
The appointments are Lizzie Francke as Executive Producer for film and Paul Welsh as Development Executive for film.
Francke joins EM Media from the production company Little Bird where she set up their Ministry of Fear label. She was co-producer on Marc Evan’s psychological thriller Trauma (2004) and is a former Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Francke was also a film critic contributing to Sight and Sound, Premiere, The Observer and The Guardian. She is also the author of Script Girls, Women Screenwriters in Hollywood.
EM Media has recently secured £6million of finance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to invest in East Midlands Film and Media.
Francke will be responsible for seeking out feature film talent and projects and developing new partnerships that will ensure EM Media continues to make smart, innovative financial decisions and supports projects that are distinctive and original.
Francke comments, "This is a fantastic time to be joining EM Media. The prospect of attracting projects that can be enhanced by the wealth of experience and skills that exist here is tremendously exciting. There is something very tangible and exciting about the East Midlands and the talent working within it. I hope to build upon the excellent work of Kate Ogborn and look forward to furthering EM Media’s reputation as an exemplary regional financier.”
Since 2001 EM Media’s has co-financed eight feature films with partners such as Film Four, UK Film Council and BBC Films. These include This is England, the latest feature from Shane Meadows, Brothers of the Head, A Cock and Bull Story and One For the Road. EM Media is also investing £750,000 of ERDF over three years in the low budget studio initiative Warp X. Main backers are the UK Film Council and Film Four.
Commenting on Francke’s appointment Debbie Williams, Chief Executive, EM Media said, "Lizzie has an excellent track record in the film industry. We are delighted that she will be joining the EM Media team in Nottingham and look forward to developing and supporting film projects that represent the best of British talent. This is an exciting time for regional filmmaking.”
EM Media is also delighted to welcome Paul Welsh to the production team as Development Executive, Film. Welsh will work with Francke in supporting emerging talent focusing on first-time features.
Welsh began his career in print journalism and moved into radio and TV production in the early nineties. He produced the BAFTA award-winning Ruby and then set up his own company Edge City Films in 2002. Welsh set up the low-budget digital film project DigiCult in 2001 and subsequently has developed 40 short film projects over the last four years. EM Media is delighted to be welcoming him on board.
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