Helping new film-makers stay in the North-East

2:08pm Thursday 6th December 2007

A MICRO-STUDIO is being launched in the region to help encourage budding film-makers to remain in the North-East.

Moxie Makers will be launched by Ipso Facto Films, of Newcastle, at the Northern Lights Film Festival, which starts in Gateshead tomorrow.

The venture is to be funded through a combination of public money, film industry finance, private investment and sponsorship.

It will concentrate on making films with budgets between £150,000 and £500,000, instead of the £1m needed at present to finance a low-budget production.

Christine Alderson, Ipso Facto producer and founder, said: "For too many years talented filmmakers with engaging stories and fresh, distinctive voices have had to fight with public and private financiers for their first feature film to be made - Moxie Makers will change this.

"Importantly, Moxie Makers has been created to stimulate film production in North-East England.

"We hope that the North-East will benefit hugely from the development of local film-makers and its enhanced profile as a ground-breaking and fresh filmmaking region both on a national and international scale."

The studio has the backing of several big names in the industry, including MovieHouse Entertainment, Soda Pictures and post-production company Molinare.

■ The Northern Lights Film Festival runs from tomorrow until Sunday. For details of venues, films and events visit the website www.nlff.co.uk. For tickets call the box office on 0191-232-8289.