Press and Media
Download press releases and imagery (where applicable) on EM Media announcements, activities and achievements.
For further information and imagery contact EM Media's Communications Team on +44 (0)115 993 2333 between 9am and 6pm.
Press release about Sony Pictures Home Entertainment acquiring the UK distribution rights to EM Media-backed feature film Best Laid Plans.
EM Media’s Career Acceleration Programme (East) entitles East of England film professionals to apply for up to 50% towards the costs of a bespoke package of training and skills support. Representatives of the region’s film industry are invited to find out more about the new support available to them at a roadshow taking place at Elstree Studios.
EM Media today continues its support for the film sector in the East of England with the launch of the Career Acceleration Programme (East). The programme, which builds on a successful scheme already operating in the East Midlands, offers film professionals up to 50% towards the costs of a bespoke package of training and skills support.
Tyrannosaur, the EM Media co-financed directorial debut of acclaimed British actor and East Midlands resident Paddy Considine, has been awarded two top prizes at the internationally renowned Sundance Film Festival.
EM Media today celebrates two investments, a feature film and a television series, picking up prizes at prestigious awards ceremonies. At the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film festival in Austin, Texas Andrew Haigh’s Weekend wins the Emerging Visions Audience Award, and at the Royal Television Society awards Shane Meadows’ This Is England ’86 is winner of two gongs; best Actor (Female) and best Writer (Drama).
Shooting has commenced in Nottingham on the EM Media co-financed BEST LAID PLANS (working title), directed by BAFTA and EMMY award-winning David Blair (The Street). BEST LAID PLANS explores the bonds of love and loyalty between two unlikely friends fighting for survival – and examines how extreme violence tests those bonds to the limit.
The latest additions to EM Media’s award-winning film portfolio have completed their shoots in the East Midlands taking the agency's total number of short films made to 82.
EM Media Chair, Lisa Opie argues change is good - but warns against throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
SKELETONS, Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Best British Film of 2010, can be purchased on DVD from Monday 4 October 2010.
Shooting has begun in Nottingham on WEEKENDER, the EM Media co-financed sophomore feature film from director Andrew Haigh. WEEKENDER tells the story of Russell, who embarks on a life-changing brief encounter with a stranger over the course of one weekend. The film is an honest and unapologetic love story between two men, exploring the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.
EM Media, Screen Agency for the East Midlands, today launches a new initiative to place students from one of the best media production courses in the country on feature length drama, documentary and animation productions.
March 2010
Tigerlily Films (SHE, A CHINESE) and Stopwatch Productions in association with EM Media have commenced production on HIGH HOPES, a feature documentary exploring what became of one group of 1970s art and design students at Leicester Poly, now De Montfort University.
An EM Media co-financed documentary telling the story of Nottingham’s last remaining lace-makers will have its UK premiere at the Nottingham Contemporary gallery on Wednesday 13 October
The investments were made with the support of the East Midlands Development Agency (emda).
The award marks a hat trick of Michael Powell Award wins for Screen Agency EM Media with SKELETONS joining Anton Corbijn’s CONTROL (2007) and Louis Pepe and Keith Fulton’s BROTHERS OF THE HEAD (2006).
June 2010
EM Media, Screen Agency for the East Midlands and a key investor in British film talent, will unveil four new co-financed films at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), which kicks off on Wednesday.
Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton’s directorial debut, The Unloved last night won the award for Single Drama at the 2010 British Academy Television Awards. The Unloved was co-financed by EM Media and shot on location in Nottingham.
CEMETERY JUNCTION, the first feature film from award-winning writing/directing/acting duo Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, is released today in UK cinemas – and the film will shine a spotlight on its two Loughborough locations, the Great Central Railway and John Taylor & Co Bell Foundry.
EM Media announces nine new digital media projects with the support of the East Midlands Development Agency (emda)
EM Media, the Screen Agency for the East Midlands, is delighted to announce the 17 writers, directors and writer/directors who have been selected for the development stage of the agency’s digital short film talent development, training and production scheme, DV Shorts.
Dec 2009
EM Media continues its winning four year run at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.
The talent behind films made in the East Midlands and co-financed by screen agency EM Media are celebrating today after scooping two awards at the UK’s most important celebration of independent film, the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) last night.
Shooting wraps in Nottingham on Jim Loach’s Oranges and Sunshine. Production now moves to South Australia where principal photography ends on 31 January 2010.
Oranges and Sunshine marks the feature film debut of director Jim Loach. The screenplay is by Rona Munro based on the book Empty Cradles by Margaret Humphreys.
Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire have both proved to be a major draw with not one, but two new TV dramas; Cast Offs, an ambitious and darkly comic drama series for Channel 4 and a new BBC TV drama.
9 November 2009
Two films, Crying With Laughter and The Unloved, both co-financed by screen agency EM Media, won awards at this year's Scottish BAFTAs. Crying With Laughter scooped the Feature Film award, while Robert Carlyle was awarded the Acting in TV award for his performance in Samantha Morton’s directorial debut The Unloved.
EM Media co-financed features; Bronson, Bunny and the Bull and The Unloved receive five nominations for the 2009 British Independent Film Awards.
Lincolnshire declared itself ‘film friendly’ as Lincolnshire Tourism, City of Lincoln Council and Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG) joined EM Media to pledge support for the East Midlands Film Friendly Initiative, which aims to make the East Midlands the number one destination for film and TV productions.
Monday 3 August, 2009
EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands, is delighted to announce the latest round of commissions through DV Shorts; EM Media’s digital short film talent development, training and production intervention. Now in its seventh year DV Shorts continues to go from strength to strength with films winning UK and international awards and going on to secure international sales. While the filmmakers involved have made real progression in their careers, with some moving on to direct their feature film debuts.
Leicestershire today becomes the first county in the East Midlands to declare itself ‘film friendly’. Leicester Shire Promotions joins EM Media to pledge support for the East Midlands Film Friendly Initiative, which aims to make the East Midlands the number one destination for film and TV productions.
Thursday 2 July
Joining Opie are are Marc Boothe (Founder, MD and Executive Producer - B3 Media), Jeremy Gawade (Senior Partner - Lee & Thompson), Elizabeth Karlsen (Producer and Co-Director -Number 9 Films), Dr. Lisa Mooney-Smith (Associate Dean of Arts for Research and Enterprise, University of Northampton) and David Shear (Head of Theatrical Distribution - Revolver Entertainment).
May 2009
A total of six EM Media co-financed films will receive their
Figures released EM Media show film and media production activity brought £35m inward investment to the East Midlands’ economy in 2007/08, and furthered the region’s reputation as the home of award-winning creative talent. Download the Annual Review and Economic Achievements documents from EM Media’s website.
The 25th anniversary edition of the Sundance Film Festival will include premieres from two films made and financed in the East Midlands.
October 2008
Films with an East Midlands connection feature in this year’s British Independent Film Awards nominations
The nominations for the 11th Awards ceremony have today been announced and once again the East Midlands is well represented with feature films Hush and Somers Town, documentary A Complete History of My Sexual Failures and short film Soft all nominated within key categories.
This release details forthcoming premieres of EM Media co-financed films at The Times 52nd BFI London Film Festival and the Rome International Film Festival.
14 October, 2008
Article from The Observer Review section by Jason Solomons on the state of homegrown film in the lead up to London Film Festival 2008.
30 June 2008
East Midlands talent and productions scoop two awards at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival
Shane Meadows won the coveted Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film for his feature Somers Town, while Robert Carlyle collected the prestigious PPG Award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film.
EM Media today announced its forthcoming slate of productions at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The productions are - A Boy Called Dad, Tyrannosaur, King of the Gypsies, Red Sail and Bunny and the Bull.
17 June 2008
EM Media provides ‘Six of the Best’ at the Edinburgh
Film Festival
The UK’s biggest and longest running film festival gets underway tomorrow in Edinburgh and this year the spotlight will well and truly shine on films made and financed in the East Midlands.
A total of six EM Media co-financed features are receiving their UK or world premieres. All six were financed through EM Media’s ERDF investment fund which was secured in 2006.
12 October 2007
EM Media’s contribution to tourism recognised at awards ceremony
At the annual Enjoy England Excellence Awards East Midlands Tourism presented a special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism to EM Media, Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands.
October 2007
Four-legged film stars from the East Midlands recognised at major film festival awards
The world's first international awards for canine stars of the big screen arrives at The Times BFI London Film Festival this weekend. The Fidos is a glittering event which celebrates the silver screen's finest canine moments and is presented by the organisers of the prestigious annual Palm Dog Award at Cannes Film Festival, now in its seventh fabulous year.
18 May 2007
EM Media continues its support of Shane Meadows through investment in a pioneering VOD project
EM Media, Warp Films and Film Four have teamed up to invest in the creation of an innovative new website which will, for the first time, make Shane Meadows’ vast back catalogue of shorts available for download.
August 2007
EM Media support plays dramatic role in boosting economy and creativity in the East Midlands to the tune of £18m
EM Media’s production fund and its Locations Service provide the region with job creation, inward investment and, through key partnerships with tourism organisations such as East Midlands Tourism and Visit Britain, an increase in the number of visitors to the region. Through this activity EM Media has helped to bring close to £18million into the East Midlands economy.
18 June 2007
Nottinghamshire in the spotlight as EM Media invites film producers to tour the county
Regional Screen Agency EM Media is hosting a tour of Nottingham for film and television producers. This familiarisation tour aims to showcase the county’s potential for filming, recently enhanced by a flurry of filming throughout Nottinghamshire, including Shane Meadow’s hit film This Is England, the acclaimed Ian Curtis biopic Control and the comedy Magicians, which stars Peep Show’s Mitchell and Webb.
New hope for British horror completes filming
Film London and EM Media are delighted to announce that Mum & Dad, the first film to be produced under Film London’s micro-budget film fund Microwave, has wrapped following a successful and intensive three week shoot in London and Nottingham.
Thursday 6 December 2007
Starring role for Nottingham
The streets of Nottingham city centre can currently be seen in an exciting new advert for the Motorola RAZR2. The advert, which can be seen online now, features three ‘free runners’ jumping acrobatically off and onto a variety of buildings which should be instantly recognisable to those familiar with Nottingham – the ad even features one of the city’s iconic trams!
1 May 2007
Leicestershire enjoys the Limelight as EM Media invites Location Managers to tour the county
Regional Screen Agency EM Media is hosting a two-day tour of Leicestershire and Rutland for film and television location managers. This familiarisation tour aims to showcase both counties’ potential for filming, building on the success of productions that have already featured Leicestershire’s varied locations; including, A Cock and Bull Story starring Steve Coogan, The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks, The Hours, starring Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep, and Enigma starring Kate Winslet.
Friday 7 September 2007
Community in my Pocket – innovative technology set to revolutionise learning
Intuitive Media, a Derbyshire-based creator and service provider of protected social networking and learning facilities for schoolchildren, is to receive £250,000 investment from EM Media through the European Regional Development Fund to develop and implement Community in My Pocket, a unique service which allows children to access protected online learning communities via mobile platforms such as mobile phones, Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) and Nintendo DS.
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Brand new filmmakers get their work shown on the big screen
Seven new Leicestershire-based filmmakers who have been working with EM Media over the past year as part of the national UK Film Council and European Social Fund project, Identities, will see their finished films screened at a celebratory event taking place at The Peepul Centre on Tuesday 18 September.
Award-winning UK production company Tigerlily Films in production on feature doc Goth Cruise
Tigerlily Films has commenced production on Goth Cruise a feature length documentary for the Independent Film Channel in the US. The production has investment from EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands through European Regional Development Funds.
Friday 8 February 2008
EM Media announces new appointments
EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands, has announced two new appointments to its Nottingham-based team: Anna Seifert-Stock joins as Development Executive, Film and Mike Kelly and his associate Laura Hypponen from Northern Alliance have been contracted to deliver Consultant Business Affairs services.
7 May 2008
EM Media films set to dominate Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival has today unveiled its line up for this year’s festival and films made and financed in the East Midlands look set to dominate.
Tuesday 28 August 2007
Films from the East Midlands scoop top awards at Edinburgh International Film Festival
Anton Corbijn’s critically acclaimed feature film, Control, which received investment from EM Media and shot on location in Nottingham, has been named winner of the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Tuesday 14 August 2007
The East Midlands gets ready to take Edinburgh by storm
Films from England’s East Midlands are set to dominate proceedings at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, which will see the UK premiere of two major feature films, Anton Corbijn’s acclaimed directorial debut Control, and Anand Tucker’s beautifully evocative, And When Did You Last See Your Father?, both of which were co-financed by EM Media and made in the East Midlands.
There will also be eleven regionally produced and EM Media co-financed short films unveiled at the festival, one of which, titled Dog Altogether, is the directorial debut of Bourne Ultimatum actor Paddy Considine.
October 2007
Short film roadshow showcases opportunities for filmmaking in Leicester
EM Media and B3 Media will present two short filmmaking schemes at a roadshow for aspiring writers and directors taking place at The LCB Depot in Leicester. EM Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the East Midlands, will be launching its DV Shorts scheme for 2008 while B3, an agency which works to connect Britain’s multicultural communities with its creative industries, will present Blank Slate.
March 17, 2008
EM Media introduces the region’s future filmmakers
EM Media is delighted to announce that four films have been commissioned through the agency’s DV Shorts scheme, run in conjunction with the UK Film Council. The scheme is now in its sixth year and has a built a reputation for producing films which go on to secure television broadcasts, festival screenings, awards and industry accolades. This year’s films should prove to be no exception!
Tuesday 28 August 2007
East Midlands films scoop top awards at Edinburgh International Film Festival
Anton Corbijn’s critically acclaimed feature film, Control, which received investment from EM Media and shot on location in Nottingham, has been named winner of the prestigious Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Tuesday 8 April, 2008
Innovative new project brings professional filmmaking skills to Derbyshire schools
The Cine Hub project, currently taking place in seven schools across Derbyshire, enables school children to engage with film production that has a social as well as educational value. Through Cine Hub schools receive professional commissions from external agencies to produce work that is public facing, allowing children and their teachers to learn the reality of creatively responding to briefs, pitching film projects to clients and working to deadlines.
23 May 2008
Minister calls on Hollywood to come to the East Midlands
Phil Hope, Minister for the East Midlands, today called on the world’s top filmmakers to come to the East Midlands to create their next blockbuster. Pointing to recent critical hits – such as Anton Corbijn’s Control, which was set in the north-west but financed and made in Nottingham – the Minister said he wanted to build on such successes to develop and promote the region’s burgeoning film industry.
Monday 3 March 2008
Shooting begins on Nicholas Winding Refn’s BRONSON
Principal photography has commenced on BRONSON, a feature film based on the life of Britain’s most notorious prisoner CHARLES BRONSON. Vertigo Films is producing the project in association with 4DH Films, EM Media, Str8jacket Creations and Aramid Entertainment. The film will shoot for six weeks in Nottinghamshire.
Thursday 29 November 2007
EM Media-backed films sweep the board at the BIFAs
The East Midlands’ growing reputation as the home of innovative and distinctive filmmaking was further advanced last night, as films from the region picked up an astonishing SIX gongs at last night’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).
October 2007
Nominations for British Independent Film Awards dominated by films with an East Midlands connection
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA’s) is one of the most important ceremonies in the UK film calendar, the BIFA’s honour the best and brightest film talent, rewarding excellence in independent films. This year And When Did You Last See Your Father? and Control dominate the
nominations across the majority of award categories with Paddy Considine’s directorial debut Dog Altogether scooping a nomination too!
Tuesday 13 November
Shooting begins on Alexis Dos Santos' Unmade Beds, starring Deborah Francois, Fernando Tielve and Michiel Huisman
Unmade Beds begins principal photography this week. The second feature from acclaimed writer/director Alexis Dos Santos, Unmade Beds brings his Latin American New Wave sensibility to the film’s cosmopolitan East London setting to tell the poignant but funny stories of Axl and Vera. The film features a cast of exciting young international acting and creative talent in front of and behind the camera, and cutting edge music by UK-based independent bands.
