SHOOTING starts in the region this week on a new feature film, thanks to a £150,000 investment from the Finance for Business North-East Creative Content Fund.

The movie, January, is the latest production to receive backing from the fund, which is managed by Northstar Ventures and held by Northern Film and Media. The opening scenes of the 24-day shoot take place on a private estate in County Durham.

The film, described by its makers as Gosford Park meets Misery, chronicles a dark tale of aristocratic family secrets, deception and crime.

January stars an all-British cast including James Cosmo, (Braveheart, Troy), Amy Manson (Being Human, Outcasts), Nora- Jane Noone (Magdalene Sisters) and James Lance (Bronson). It is being directed by Danish filmmaker Adam Levins.

The relationship between Northstar Ventures and Northern Film and Media was the first of its kind in the UK’s regional creative industries sector Northstar’s chief executive Marion Bernard said: “As a film buff myself I take great satisfaction in seeing deals come together which help to strengthen the region’s creative sector and I look forward to seeing the finished product achieve commercial success.”