Cardiff production company aims for the big screen with Finance
Wales investment
02/10/07
An acclaimed Wales-based television production company is
pushing ahead with plans for the big screen as part of a growth
strategy being supported by Finance Wales.
Cardiff-based ‘Forget About It Film and TV Ltd’ has won acclaim
for its distinctive television documentaries and network
commissions. Now, as part of its continued expansion, the company
is developing ideas for new cinematic feature films, while
continuing to focus on its innovative television documentaries.
Finance Wales, a provider of commercial funding to Wales-based
SMEs, has supported the company’s growth with two investments
totalling £70,000.
“We have a number of ideas which we’re pitching with some extremely
experienced executive producers as well as securing finance for our
forthcoming feature film.
“However, we’re conscious that we need to keep developing our
international documentaries, so the Finance Wales investment allows
us to bring in the right team to make this happen,” said producer
Valerie Croft, who established Forget About It Film and TV Ltd with
director Suzanne Phillips and writer Sarah Broughton.
The latest deal highlights Finance Wales’ continued investment
into the creative industries in Wales.
Alongside the £7 million Wales Creative IP Fund which it manages
on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, Finance Wales has
directly invested into companies such as Boomerang, Calon, Dragon
Digital and Green Bay.
Chris Griffiths, Investment Executive at Finance Wales, said: “In
order to create new growth opportunities a business has to
continually evolve and innovate. Forget About It Films has realised
that while its strength is in the production of high quality
documentaries, it also has the expertise to develop and produce
other media opportunities.
“The investment from Finance Wales will support the development of
these ideas into growth potential for the company and reinforces
our commitment to the creative industries.”
Credits to date for Forget About It Films include ‘Val Doonican
Rocks’ for BBC Two/Four, 'A Place of Safety' for BBC Wales, 'Vera
Lynn – Sincerely Yours', for BBC Two/Four, On Show arts series for
BBC Wales , 'Edith Piaf - Singing Her Life' for BBC Two/Four.
Later this month the company will be attending the acclaimed
MediMed Documentary Market and Festival in Sitges, Spain. The event
attracts some of Europe’s top buyers and commissioning editors and
will give Forget About It Films the opportunity to showcase its
‘Safe’ documentary.
The production, aimed at a cinema audience, profiles the work of
the Women’s Safety Unit in Cardiff and the work it has undertaken
to produce a rise of 20 per cent in prosecutions against
perpetrators of domestic violence. Safe follows a number of women
supported by the unit.
“Our aim is to increase our co-production profile by promoting Safe
and our company at this prestigious event,” added Valerie
Croft.