The hub will use the money as seed funding with a view to growing the region’s creative industries.

Dad's Army

The BFI has awarded $185,000 of National Lottery funding to the Yorkshire Screen Industries Hub through its Creative Clusters Fund.

Hub members Screen Yorkshire, Game Republic and Sheffield Doc/Fest have drawn investment from local authorities and universities to match the BFI’s level of funding, meaning the overall investment in the area will be $370,000.

That money will go into a pot to be managed by Yorkshire Screen Industries Hub and will be used as seed funding for business planning and research with a view to creating a strategy to grow infrastructure and skills in the region’s creative sector.

The BFI’s award is part of the Creative Clusters Fund’s initiative to support the development and economic growth of the UK’s creative industries outside of London.

Amanda Nevill, chief executive of the BFI, said: “There’s something exciting happening in Yorkshire’s screen sector and there is huge potential in this dynamic region, so we’re thrilled to support such a range of fantastic partners who have come together with one common goal: to ensure Yorkshire’s burgeoning screen industries continue to grow and flourish.”

Sally Joynson, chief executive at Screen Yorkshire added: “This is fantastic news for everyone working in the film, TV and gaming sectors in Yorkshire, now and in the future. It’s a huge vote of confidence in our screen industries and will enable us to build a compelling case for further investment in the sector.”

Recent film productions to shoot in Yorkshire include Dad’s Army [pictured], Testament Of Youth and the forthcoming Swallows And Amazons. TV programmes including Peaky Blinders and Jericho have also filmed in the region in recent years.

The BFI will open applications to the Creative Clusters Fund for a second round of awards in May 2016.

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