Grants of up to £20k to deliver film and TV ideas

Creatives can apply for grants of up to £20,000

Local creative firms in the West Midlands are being offered the chance to bid for funding to help bring their ideas to reality.

The latest round of the West Midlands IP Fund will open later this month, offering grants of up to £20,000.

The fund has already backed projects including the revival of children's favourite Bagpuss and the new BBC drama The Hairdresser Mysteries, both set to be filmed in the region.

Five TV series and three feature films have been commissioned after being developed by production companies in the region with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Create Central, and Creative UK.

Regional mayor Richard Parker said: "We're unlocking the potential of homegrown creatives to get their ideas off the storyboard right here in the West Midlands.

"These are the kinds of opportunities that create jobs and attract investment."

The mayor recently signed an agreement with the BBC to nearly double production spend in the region to £40m a year, creating more screen industry jobs and training opportunities.

Local film-makers Ché from Wolverhampton and Anton from Birmingham, who run Acclaimed Content, are examples of the fund's impact.

Their BBC Three documentary Queen of Trucks followed Shannan Paterson running an HGV driving school in Willenhall. The project helped them secure further commissions, including a Channel 4 gameshow, Family Face Off.

Ché said: "Getting the chance to develop Queen of Trucks was vital. It gave us our first commission and got us in the room with commissioners. Now we're working with multiple broadcasters."

Ed Shedd, chair of Create Central, said the next phase of the fund would provide more opportunities for regional production companies to develop original ideas.

Paul Ashton, head of film & TV at Creative UK, added: "Development funding is crucial for regional screen companies to turn ideas into successful projects."