Screen Scotland has launched a new collaboration with the world’s largest arts festival – the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – to secure new film and TV content.
The aim of the pilot Screen Fringe programme is to connect film and TV creative producers with Scotland-based theatre and comedy talent in a bid to capitalise on the unprecedented growth in the production of high-end TV and film content as a result of the rapid expansion of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon, alongside the recent push for UK public-funded TV and film content to be made outside of London.
Isabel Davis, executive director at Screen Scotland (above), said: “Creative producers, in the UK and internationally, are hungry for new writing, directing and acting talent, and material that can be developed into film and TV content.
“Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an unparalleled showcase of new talent in theatre, comedy and multi-art performance. It is already well known to, and attended by, major TV production companies, especially those specialising in comedy.
“Through this new collaboration with the Edinburgh Fringe, Screen Scotland is looking to encourage greater attendance and engagement between Scottish, UK and international film and TV producers, with the financing and creative clout to get work made, and the theatre and comedy talent on offer in Scotland.”
Film and TV producer, Lizzie Brown, is leading the work on behalf of Screen Scotland, working closely with the Edinburgh Fringe Arts Industry Office to curate tailored itineraries for individual delegates of shows to attend, talent to connect with, enabling connections between the programme delegates, Fringe artists and industry attendees.
Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “This pilot programme seeks to build and sustain a relationship between Screen Scotland and the Fringe Society’s Arts Industry Office, our key department for engaging with artists, venues and arts industry.
“Our team of specialists work to support visiting curators, buyers and promoters of shows and talent. As well as being a phenomenal festival, the Fringe is a global performing arts market where creatives come together to do business. Within this our recent Fringe Forward programme facilitates a more focused way for artists to connect with influential promoters and producers.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Screen Scotland to further boost the transition that has always existed between stage and screen.”
Lizzie Brown said: “Plenty of film and TV producers already engage with the Fringe to track talent and material but the Screen Scotland pilot this year will involve learning from the screen industries and the Fringe Forward offer to make the Fringe more accessible.
“We’ll also focus on exploring how the programme can be developed to encourage more of the film and TV industry to see the Edinburgh Fringe as a place to engage with and pick up new talent and properties for development.”
Film and TV producers / executives who are interested in this opportunity and would like to find out more information about the programme are invited to contact Lizzie Brown:screen@edfringe.com
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