Tag: Tees Valley

Cinema release date announced for Teesside-shot action thriller Jackdaw

Posted on 30 November 202330 November 2023 by North East Screen

British thriller, Jackdaw, that filmed in Teesside, will be released in cinemas on the 26th of January.

JACKDAW, which Vertigo Releasing has acquired for a nationwide UK theatrical release from producers and sales agents Anton Corp., stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man, Emily, The Haunting of Hill House) as the title character, along with Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who, The Sandman, Victoria), Thomas Turgoose (Creation Stories, The Gallows Pole, This is England) and Rory McCann (Game of Thrones). Further cast includes Joe Blakemore (The Third Day), Vivienne Acheampong (The Sandman) and BAFTA Breakthrough Performer 2022 Leon Harrop (Ralph & Katie).

The film was shot on location in the North East of England in Hartlepool and the Tees Valley, around sites including Seal Sands, Nunthorpe, Redcar and the North Sea, filming against the backdrop of the region’s breathtaking coastlines and dramatic industrial landscapes. It also utilised The Northern Film and TV Studios, the North East’s only large-scale film and TV production facility.

The film has seen significant investment from The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and the North East Production Fund, delivered by regional screen agency North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), as part of their ambitious plans to make the region one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs.

JACKDAW had its World Premiere at the legendary Fantastic Fest in Texas on the 22^nd of September, and will be followed by a star-studded UK Premiere which will take place in the North East.

Writer-Director Jamie Childs said: “We see so many American films set in atmospheric towns that don’t tie themselves to local, kitchen-sink stories. I thought, why don’t we do this in Britain? We set out to push the envelope of what was possible stylistically and tonally in our region. Its clash of pastoral and industrial worlds is the perfect setting for an exciting, pulpy chase thriller. I wanted to prove to an up-and-coming wave of potential filmmakers that we can take advantage of what’s right on our doorstep and still appeal to an international audience. I’d like to thank North East Screen and the Tees Valley Combined Authority for helping us make this all possible.”

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director for North East Screen, said: “We have exceptional world class talent, amazingly diverse stunning locations and extremely experienced crew here in the North East. Supporting Jamie’s feature film debut as a writer-director via the North East Production Fund was a straightforward decision.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Jamie is a fantastic example of another homegrown talent taking huge strides on the global stage. It’s wonderful to have him back on his home patch with JACKDAW. This is yet another fantastic chance for us to showcase ourselves as a filming and production capital, with our big investment into the industry already reaping rewards. There truly has never been a better time for local people to get into the film industry – not just for writers and directors, but for engineers, costume makers and technicians. Our cash is helping get us onto screens and in front of people across the UK and JACKDAW is another wonderful example of that, and I can’t wait for the premiere!”

JACKDAW is an unrelenting action thriller set over the course of a single night against the backdrop of North East England, an area where breath taking coastal landscapes meet the brutality of industry. Jack Dawson, a former motocross champion and army veteran, returns to his hometown to care for his brother after their mother dies. Hoping to start a new life, he takes what could be a life-changing job for an old school friend turned local criminal, Silas. What should have been a straightforward pick-up of a package in the North Sea turns into a nightmare when Jack is double-crossed, and his brother is kidnapped. As he fights for survival and searches for answers, Jack encounters friends and adversaries old and new across a violent night-time odyssey through England’s Northern rust belt.

The film features a pulse-pounding soundtrack including classic dance music tracks from The Prodigy, The KLF, Aphex Twin and Robin S, as well as new wave music from Adam and the Ants, The Revillos and a brand-new exclusive track from North East star Sam Fender.

JACKDAW is produced by Sebastian Raybaud (Greenland, Canary Black), Callum Grant (Cleaner), Kate Glover (47 Meters Down, Black Mirror) and Jamie Childs. Childs directs alongside his regular DOP Will Baldy (The Sandman, Willow).

JACKDAW will open in cinemas on 26 January 2024

Watch the trailer below

Jackdaw Trailer

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution picks up Sea and Sky Pictures produced horror ‘Lore’

Posted on 19 October 202319 October 2023 by North East Screen

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has acquired worldwide sales rights to Scottish-set horror Lore, following the film’s world premiere at the UK’s FrightFest earlier this year.

Kaleidoscope acquired the film from producers Sea and Sky Pictures, and will present it to buyers at next month’s American Film Market. It will also distribute it in the UK through its distribution arm Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment in 2024.

Lore was directed by James Bushe, Patrick Ryder and Greig Johnson, and written by the trio with Christine Barber-Ryder. It follows four scare-loving friends who book a horror-themed camping excursion in Scotland; who release forms of malevolence when telling stories by the campfire.

Richard Brake, Andrew Lee Potts, Bill Fellows and Rufus Hound lead the cast. Adam Bouabda of Sea and Sky Pictures described the film as “a horror anthology with a little something for everyone”, while Kaleidoscope CEO Spencer Pollard called it “an excellent genre film”.

Jackdaw debuts with 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Posted on 6 October 20235 March 2024 by North East Screen

Jackdaw, the feature-length writing and directorial debut from North East filmmaker, Jamie Childs, which received support from the North East Production Fund, has debuted with 100% on the popular review site Rotten Tomatoes. following its worldwide premiere at Fantastic Fest.

Set in Hartlepool over the course of a single night, the crime drama follows a former motocross champion and army veteran (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) as he searches for his kidnapped brother.

The film stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man, The Haunting of Hill House) as the title character, with other household names including Jenna Coleman – known for her work in Doctor Who, The Sandman and Victoria – This is England star Thomas Turgoose and Game of Thrones star Rory McCann.

It has seen a £300,000 investment from the North East Production Fund, delivered by regional screen agency North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP), as part of their ambitious plans to make the region one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs.

Production of the film took place in the Tees Valley area and wrapped at the beginning of this year.

Since its debut at Fantastic Fest in Texas last month, the film has been receiving positive reviews with critics praising the cinematography and nuanced performance from the film’s cast.

The film was also the first feature to make use of the newly opened The Northern Studios in Hartlepool, currently the North East’s only large-scale film and TV studios.

Gayle Woodruffe, Operations Director for North East Screen, who manages the North East Production Fund, said: “Piloting JACKDAW through the North East Production Fund was an easy decision, it allowed us to not only support exceptional North East homegrown talent, but also showcase the North East in a different light for the big screen.

“We have world class talent, world class crew and world class locations here in the North East, and all of these are showcased in JACKDAW – a testament to the work we are doing to build on the growing screen industry in the region.”

To mark the film’s release in UK cinemas by Vertigo Releasing, a glittering star-studded premiere will take place in Tees Valley before a series of local screenings ahead of its release.

Watch the trailer for Jackdaw below

Screen Alliance North are hiring – Skills Cluster roles

Posted on 26 April 202324 May 2023 by Jo Macleod

Screen Alliance North, a new £2.3m BFI Skills Cluster led by Screen Yorkshire, Liverpool Film Office, Screen Manchester and North East Screen, is recruiting for two new full-time roles, to support development and training of the screen sector workforce across the North of England.

Skills Cluster Partnership Lead – £47,000 – £49,000

Skills Cluster Evaluation Manager – £42,000 – £44,000

These roles are full time (37 hours per week) and a three year fixed term contract. They can be based at any of the partner offices in Sunderland, Hartlepool, Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds and will see work across all of the partner regions.

For more information on the jobs and how to apply, please visit our careers page.

Applications close on Wednesday 24th May.

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Tall Ships 2023 Digital Content Project

Posted on 5 April 202327 April 2023 by North East Screen

The Tall Ships Race is returning to Hartlepool this year and we have partnered with Hartlepool Council to offer up to 8 digital commissions to Tees Valley-based creatives.

We are looking for short films, vlogs, or digital sizzles that showcase Hartlepool, Tall Ships, and the significance of the race being held in Hartlepool. The films should be 90 to 150 seconds in length and suitable for use across social platforms.

Successful applicants will receive a £500 bursary and will be invited to attend an in-person workshop on creating online content led by North East Screen.

Click here to view the full brief.

Click here to access the application form.

Click here to download the SME form.

Applications will close on the 1st of May. If you have any questions, please email hello@northeastscreen.org.

The Northern Studios in Hartlepool celebrates formal opening

Posted on 16 March 202316 March 2023 by North East Screen

The Northern Studios welcomes Sir Peter Bazalgette, Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council, to an evening reception to celebrate the formal opening of the new North East based television and film studio complex.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, joins Sir Peter Bazalgette to conduct the formal opening alongside key figures from the screen industries and regional creative organisations.

The Northern Studios, Hartlepool, opened in November 2022, has already accommodated film and production crew for the forthcoming UK action thriller ‘Jackdaw’ directed by home grown talent, Jamie Childs (The Sandman, His Dark Materials).

The Northern Studios is a large-scale commercial facility for the region and, as such, supports the new film and television infrastructure ‘map’ for the North East. These are exciting times for the region with the recent confirmation of £16.5million of Government ‘Levelling Up’ funding to support a production village centred upon The Northern Studios, the surrounding creative quarter of Hartlepool and the announcements of further studio developments in Sunderland.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council, said: “I’m delighted to be here in Hartlepool celebrating the successful opening of The Northern Studios; as a region the North East has so much to offer in terms of talent and creativity. It’s important that all areas with the potential of the North East have both the training and commercial infrastructure they need to support their growing creative industries.”

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, said: “The progress we are making in the North East is game-changing. There’s more to come and more to do but we’re on track to exceed the £25 million we promised to the region and have already delivered six new commissions while supporting production, talent development and the creative sector here.”

In September 2021, the BBC announced plans to spend at least £25m over the next five years across the North East to fund network TV production, talent development and support the creative sector as part of a wider partnership with the North East.

In return, Local and Mayoral authorities in the North East formed the North East Screen Investment Partnership (NESIP) and pledged to work with the BBC and independent producers, investing almost £11.5m to support talent, skills and infrastructure development to fuel the growth in the TV and film production industry across the region. The BBC is supporting the work of NESIP and huge progress has already been made.

The BBC is also launching the North East Tech Hub, delivering 70 new roles by the end of December 2023 which is hoped will act as a catalyst for further tech industry in the region. Production investment is part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy to commitment to get closer to its audiences to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the UK.

David Hughes, Chairman of The Northern Studios Board, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Sir Peter Bazalgette to The Northern Studios and receive support from Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, who have both shown huge support for the emerging new film and television production infrastructure in the North East. With one production completed and others planned, the Studios continues to deliver on its commitment to support film and television production in the area. This fully commercial production facility is the catalyst for the creation of new businesses in the area – and it’s already happening”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: “Hartlepool is nurturing world-class talent in the film and TV industries, and it now has the facilities to match. We have invested millions in supporting the sector which continues to go from strength to strength. The Northern Studios is at the heart of our plans for the Hartlepool MDC and is a real sign to the UK’s creative industries and global production firms that the region is open for business!”

The Northern Studios works closely with North East Screen, the screen agency for the North East of England which is supported by the newly formed North East Screen Industries Partnerships (NESIP).

Alison Gwynn, Chief Executive of North East Screen, said: “The screen industries are a vital part of our economy and our goal of making our region a TV and film production hub is helped greatly by studio infrastructure. We are working hard to develop talent and businesses across the North East region as well attracting production companies to film here. Having studio space, filming friendly local authorities and a skilled and talented growing workforce makes us a very attractive region indeed.”

The Northern Studios is a large-scale television and film studio complex in Hartlepool providing studio and green screen facilities, available for long- and short-term hire, to suit a range of content producers – from features and HETV through to promo and immersive, for further information, please visit www.thenorthernstudios.com

The Northern Studios was opened in November 2022 supported by funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and the Tees Valley Combined Authority in Partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council.

Cllr Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “The Northern Studios development is central to our ambitious plan for a Production Village which has the potential to completely transform the Lynn Street/Whitby Street area and bring huge benefits to Hartlepool and its residents as a whole. The Production Village project, which is to receive £16.5 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, aims to build on the high-quality facilities already in place at the studios and provide support to the town’s fast-growing screen and creative industries sector. The Council is delighted to celebrate this key milestone for the area and the creation of a new hub for business in Hartlepool.”

The Northern Studios neighbours The Northern School of Art which provides training and education courses for the creative industries from Saturday Club, A-levels, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate study, for further information, please visit www.northernart.ac.uk