Loran Dunn, UK producer and 2017 Screen Star of Tomorrow, has been awarded the 2023 Simon Relph memorial bursary fund of £15,000 by Creative UK.
Dunn is based in Manchester and founder of production company Delaval Film, through which she produced Jason Barker’s documentary A Deal With The Universe which world premiered at BFI’s Flare Festival in 2018.
The producer currently has two features in the works - Hoard from 2022 Screen Star of Tomorrow Luna Carmoon, which is aiming to launch at a festival this year; and Jack Benjamin Gill’s Beef which is scheduled for 2024.
In addition to the fund, Dunn will also be able to access mentoring from leading industry figures, which have previously included Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Sixteen Films’ Rebecca O’Brien.
The panel who interviewed candidates consisted of producers Stephen Woolley and O’Brien; Relph’s daughter Bella Relph; and Creative UK’s CEO Caroline Norbury and head of film and TV Paul Ashton.
“I am really looking forward to continuing to support talent that have incredible stories to tell, stories that transcend mere words,” said Dunn.
“The filmmakers I work with are almost all from non-traditional filmmaking backgrounds, are not from independent wealth, do not buy into the elitism that exists within the industry. They are, like me, driven by the love and power of stories, by collaboration, creativity and the desire to make films that not only resonate with audiences, but are an unforgettable ride.”
The fund was set up in 2018 in honour of Relph, who was a former Bafta chairman, and aims to bridge the gap in support available for producers who don’t live in London. This year was the first time the bursary was open to producers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as England following Creative UK’s name change.
Previous recipients include Screen Star Anna Griffin in 2018 and Unrest producer Lindsey Dryden in 2019.
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