FNA Films Seeks Funding From Major UK Film Industry Players

A Gateshead-based film company is to meet with major players in the UK film industry next week in a bid to attract funding for its latest production.
FNA Films, based at Gateshead International Business Centre has secured the meetings through a local film festival, to be held next week.
Writer-director James DeMarco and producer Zahra Zomorrodian have been
making films together since 1996 and founded FNA Films in 2002.
In that time, they have produced several corporate videos for companies such as TEDCO and Norseal, and 16 films, including 'Making Tea With The Mob', 'The Deal' and 'Ebony'.
They also recorded a preview version of their film, called 'Get Cuthbert', which was shown at Cannes last year and attracted a lot of interest from international industry figures.
DeMarco and Zomorrodian will now have meetings with senior figures from the film
industry at the Northern Lights film festival, which is held in venues across Newcastle and Gateshead including the Tyneside Cinema at Gateshead Town Hall.
After Northern Lights, the duo will head to Cannes and Berlin festivals to try to attract all the funding they need to film Get Cuthbert for a professional release.
Get Cuthbert is described as a 'road movie for the 9th century'. It is set in the North East and will be filmed all over the region, including rural Gateshead, Northumberland and Durham.
Zomorrodian said: "It is easy to forget that the North East of England was once the cradle of civilization, while also playing an integral role in establishing Christianity as one of the largest religions in the world.
"Besides bringing a smile to people's faces, we hope that this film will make people proud about their heritage, and of the region itself.
"We are really grateful for the help we have had from Gateshead Council, which enabled us to focus on being creative while staff from the economic development service helped us with the business side of things."
The council's economic development service worked with the pair to write a £1 million business plan, to find collaborators and to apply for funding from UK Trade and Invest, Business Link and Northern Film and Media.
Councillor Ian Mearns, cabinet member for employment and economy at Gateshead Council, said: "Bringing businesses to Gateshead boosts our economy and creates jobs for residents. FNA films is a great success story, and when it raises the funding for this film, we will soon see Gateshead icons up on the silver screen!
"The council is committed to helping entrepreneurs thrive and grow. The economic development service provides advice and support for new and existing businesses."
Gateshead Council's economic development service provides free, fast advice and information covering a range of business issues including finance, premises, marketing, training and recruitment.
(DS)