Netflix to offer £1.5million budget for new UK filmmaker initiative

nme.com:

Netflix has announced the launch of Breakout, a new programme designed to seek out and fund new UK filmmaking talent.The streaming giant is partnering with non-profit organisation Creative UK, a merger between Creative England and Creative Industries Federation, on the low-budget filmmaking and training project.An open application process will see six teams receive £30,000 in development funding to take part in an intensive training and professional development programme (per Deadline), delivered by Creative UK.Residential workshops, mentoring, support and input, including from Netflix executives, will be provided in pursuit of “bold, distinctive” new UK talent, with at least one film to be greenlit with an approximate £1.5m budget and a global launch on the Netflix.Breakout will be open to creative teams whose work has already garnered industry or public attention, but have yet to make a funded feature.

Netflix and Creative UK are hoping to attract talents from theatre, TV, video gaming, online content, commercials, graphic novels, music promos and short films.According to a statement from Netflix, the programme “will proactively encourage submissions from groups underrepresented in the film industry to reflect the full range of voices in modern Britain”.“Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not, and from our very first conversation it was clear that Netflix shared our desire to offer career-changing opportunities to film talent in the UK,” said Paul Ashton, head of film and TV at Creative UK.“Having backed films at Creative UK which have realised their best life with Netflix, such as Calibre and The Ritual, we know how important Breakout will be.” Ashton is leading the project for Creative UK, working with Hannah.