North East film talent gets £75,000 funding boost

A new initiative to support young film and music talent in the North East has secured a £75,000 grant.

The Tyneside Talent Unit, launched by Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, aims to nurture more than 150 young creatives annually, providing industry mentoring, production facilities and networking opportunities. 

The Sir James Knott Trust has provided funding to establish the unit, which will offer editing bays, production equipment and workshops with the aspiration to “support the next generation” and provide the “opportunity to create and showcase” talent and produce the region’s next Ridley Scott. 

Nic Greenan, chief executive of the Tyneside Cinema, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured such a vital source of funding, and are extremely grateful to everyone at the Sir James Knott Trust for their fantastic support.

“The need to nurture and retain film and music-making talent in the region is vital, and we want to support the next generation with the skills, space, confidence, networks and opportunity to create and showcase their talent in the heart of the city at the Tyneside.

“This funding will ignite a new approach of working at the Tyneside, putting young people and talent development at the heart of the charity’s objectives.

“North East talent is palpable - it just needs the opportunity to flourish.”

The project will commission 100 hours of new content, develop a library of regional stories and spotlight emerging talent, with plans for an annual awards ceremony to celebrate achievements.

A Sir James Knott Trust spokesperson added: “We are excited by the opportunities for film making in the North East.

“This is an investment in harnessing all the talent that we have here by encouraging people from all backgrounds to get involved in creative industries and the arts.”

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