DIGITAL DEPARTURES ANNOUNCE FILMMAKING FINALISTS

SIX Northwest movie making teams have been named as finalists in the prestigious Digital Departures micro-budget filmmaking initiative – and are now just one step away from securing funding of £250,000 to make their feature film.

An intriguing blend of established, rising and new talent, the final six filmmaking teams now have just eight weeks to produce a knock-out script – and convince a panel of top industry experts that their project should be one of three to be greenlit.

“It was incredibly difficult to pick just six projects from the hugely impressive shortlist of filmmakers,” says Lisa Marie Russo, Executive Producer for Digital Departures. “We’ve been able to attract some of the country’s finest creative talent to this initiative, and as we near the deadline for choosing the final three films, the quality of the projects has just been phenomenal.”

Earlier this year, Northwest Vision and Media, together with its partners the Liverpool Culture Company, the UK Film Council and the BBC, invited writers, producers and directors from across Liverpool and the UK to get involved in Digital Departures. The initiative will see three £250,000 features developed, shot and premiered in Liverpool as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations.

Chris Moll, Head of Funds for Vision and Media, which supports the region’s film, TV and digital content industries, says the initiative has already exceeded expectations.

"Digital Departures is fully engaging the creativity of Liverpool's and the Northwest's directors, writers, producers, performers, technicians and musicians in the run up to '08 as well as drawing to the city some of the most exciting, young filmmaking talent currently at work in the UK. Where else would you see an internationally renowned director like Terence Davies (Distant Voices, Still Lives) standing shoulder to shoulder with upcoming local writers Colin O'Donnell and Leigh Campbell, rock legend Pete Wylie and stand-up comedian John Bishop?

“The teams now have until early October to deliver their scripts, and we hope to announce the final three soon after that,” adds Chris.

THE FOLLOWING SIX FILMMAKING TEAMS HAVE BEEN
SELECTED AS DIGITAL DEPARTURES FINALISTS

OF TIME AND THE CITY
Genre: Documentary
Writer/Director: Terence Davies
Producers: Solon Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter

THE DON
Genre: Musical Drama
Writers: Jeff Young and Pete Wylie
Director: TBC
Producer: Tishna Molla

STARSTRUCK
Genre: Drama
Writer: Leigh Campbell
Director: Lindy Heymann
Producer: Andy Stebbing

WHORES WITH GUNS
Genre: Comedy
Writer: John Bishop
Director: James Marquand
Producer: Philip Evers

LEFT HANDED
Genre: Drama/comedy
Writers/Directors: Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor
Producer: Julie Lau

SALVAGE
Genre: Horror
Writer: Colin O’Donnell
Director: Lawrence Gough
Producer: Alan Pattison