Swiss film and TV company Blue Pencil Investments has formed a joint venture with US sales and production company Shoreline Entertainment.

The jv, named Watermark, will focus on “funding first class film and television projects,” the partners said.

“I am delighted to be working with Morris Ruskin and the Shoreline team,” said Stuart Wilkins, managing director of Blue Pencil Investments.

“They have a deservedly high reputation in the industry. They compliment perfectly with our innovative investment portfolio approach allowing us to work closely together to deliver first class returns for our investors. Watermark is a very exciting opportunity for both of us.”

Shoreline founder Ruskin added: “Stuart and I share similar goals of making great movies that will perform in the marketplace and this financing will give us the opportunity to make the type of movies that distributors have been asking for.”

Blue Pencil has recently launched its first investment fund to support a portfolio of productions, backing up to 30% of total budgets no more than £15m. The company attended ZFF’s Film Finance Forum.

Blue Pencil is also in talks with Scotland-based digital distribution and marketing company Distrify.