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Expo funding for Film Festival
24/06/2008
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is to receive £60,000 from the Scottish Government's Expo Fund to promote it as a hub for networking and showcasing Scottish filmmakers internationally and to bring talent agents from the US to Scotland.
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani will share details of the project with industry executives this evening at Scottish Screen's Scotland's Got Talent reception.
Ms Fabiani said:
"This is good news for film in Scotland as we look to profile our talent on an international stage. I am delighted to support the EIFF in its 62nd year - the Festival is always a fantastic platform to show the diversity and expertise that exists within our film industry.
"This Expo funding will support the Festival's continued growth as a promoter of Scottish talent and a champion of innovative and exciting cinema. It also underlines this Government's ongoing commitment to supporting our creative industries.
"The Edinburgh Festivals, and the world wide interest they generate, provide us with real opportunity to position Scotland as a cultural leader - the Expo Fund is significant step in this direction."
Ginnie Atkinson, Managing Director of the EIFF, said:
"This funding has offered us a real opportunity to make vital connections between our homegrown talent and the United States as well as forging relationships between the EIFF and industry executives that will bear fruit in the future as well as the present."
Ken Hay, Chief Executive of Scottish Screen, added:
"The Edinburgh International Film Festival is the UK's premier film festival. Scottish Screen is proud to be working closely with the Festival as it aims to become the world's leading festival of discovery - of both films and talent. The Expo fund has been a critically important element of the success of this year's Festival, enabling it to better reach an international market place."
The funding for EIFF marks the fifth successful project from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, launched on March 27, which supports new productions, events, and initiatives involving Scottish participants taking part in any of the Edinburgh Festivals. The fund can also be used to support touring of events or performances after their premiere at the festival and allow successful work to reach new audiences.
The Expo Fund is available to all 12 Festivals in Edinburgh to support the development of Scottish-based work.