North West Vision and Tubedale Films Partner to Develop Feature Films on Merseyside, UK.

North West Vision and Tubedale Films Partner to Develop Feature Films on Merseyside, UK.

LIVERPOOL, England, May 16/PRNewswire/ --

North West Vision, the Film and Television agency for
England's Northwest is investing GBP145,000 over the next twelve months into
a slate partnership with Liverpool-based Tubedale Films in order to stimulate
a step change in the development and production of features on Merseyside.

The deal is the first of its kind from a UK Regional Screen
Agency and will see Tubedale bringing a substantial GBP225,000 of matching
funding from a variety of sources to develop projects that are market
focussed and substantially intended for production in the region.

Tubedale is headed up by well-known Liverpudlian
actor/director David Morrissey, his brother, Liverpool businessman Paul
Morrissey, and producer Carl Clifton. David Morrissey's recent roles in the
BAFTA nominated TV series 'State of Play' and 'Blackpool' have served to
underline his critical acclaim as one of the UK's brightest talents. He is
soon to be seen in 'Stoned' ( Stephen Woolley's film about Rolling Stone
Brian Jones) and will star opposite Sharon Stone in 'Basic Instinct 2 - Risk
Addiction' which is currently filming in the UK.

Carl Clifton was formerly Head of International Sales at
Polygram and Universal Pictures International and had a stint running
FilmFour's international division. Paul Morrissey is a successful
entrepreneur and patron of the arts. Other Tubedale principals include
finance and administration director Stuart Hatwell and acclaimed novelist
Esther Freud whose Hideous Kinky was adapted for the big screen and starred
Kate Winslet. The company will also be appointing an experienced Head Of
Development to manage the slate.

Tubedale previously co-produced Patrice Leconte's
international hit film 'L'homme du train' and is currently co-producing a New
York-set English language remake of Leconte's 1989 critical and commercial
success 'Monsieur Hire'.

The investment by North West Vision is being made through its
ERDF-sponsored Merseyside Film and Television Fund, which is intended to
strengthen Liverpool's filmmaking activity in advance of its appointment as
European Capital Of Culture in 2008. As well as development finance, the Fund
also offers production financing and company development support for both
indigenous and incoming production companies looking to co-produce in the
region.

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision comments:
'Tubedale has an exceptional creative team and a very clear vision of how it
can help shape a successful film production sector on Merseyside. Developing
and attracting the newest and best talent is key but their internationalist
approach is also refreshing and completely in tune with the way that
Liverpool is positioning itself in preparation for 2008.'

David Morrissey of Tubedale Films comments: "We're delighted
to be teaming up with North West Vision in this initiative. With European
City of Culture status on the way the current and future opportunities for
developing and producing films on Merseyside are really exciting. We're
thrilled to be part of that. "

Notes to editors

- North West Vision is the film and TV development agency for
England's Northwest. It funds film and TV programmes, develops new talent
and works to attract new production and inward investment into the
region. www.northwestvision.co.uk

- The Merseyside Film & Television Fund (or 'MFTVF') is a major
initiative from North West Vision and the European Regional Development
Fund to support the growth of the screen agencies in Liverpool and
Merseyside. As well as attracting the best talent and projects to the
area, the fund is generating a professional infrastructure that can offer
skills and services that are the equal of anything else in the UK.
Investments of up to GBP250,000 are available for a whole range of
activities including company development, production development and
production financing. www.northwestvision.co.uk/mftvf

Source: North West Vision & Tubedale Films Partner

For further information on this announcement contact Geraldine Vesey, Angie Grant or Lorna Skingley at Spin Media on +44-(0)161-236-9909 or email: firstname@spinmedia.co.uk

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