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Press Release

TKC8041

13th May, 2008

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ON A ROLL AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

A new era of movie-making in the Highlands and Islands looks set to begin as the 61st Cannes Film Festival gets under way tomorrow (Wednesday, 14th May).

Sixteen film companies from across the world are currently considering shooting in the region, the highest number for five years, and three are about to start recce-ing later this month. In addition, the final two films of the massively successful Harry Potter series will be shot in the Lochaber area later this year.

Trish Shorthouse, of The Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission (SHIFC), who is flying out to Cannes to do business with the celluloid world’s movers and shakers, said the foreign interest was "extremely encouraging".

She went on: "We have seen high profile films shot partly in the Highlands and Islands over the past couple of years such as Stardust and The Water Horse and, more recently, Made of Honour, which features scenes filmed on Skye and at Glenelg.

"Over the past five years the commission has brought £15 million into the Highlands and Islands in the form of feature film, TV and commercial films despite the uncertainty in the industry about UK tax credits. Scotland overall has enjoyed a good year for income from filming with £24million coming in last year."

An interesting new development which could reap rich dividends is the imminent signing of a co-production treaty between Britain and India. Legendary Bollywood director Dev Anand, who has one of his films showing in the Cannes classic film section this year, is going to direct in the Highlands.

Trish added: "The feature film industry is looking much more buoyant now that there is a good tax credit scheme in place and the Highlands and Islands has a good conversion rate of movies compared to other areas of the UK.

"Cannes is all about making new contacts and meeting existing ones. It’s a huge opportunity to get at all the world’s movie makers in a short space of time and show them not only the stunning locations we have, but also to show them that we have got skilled production crews and the infrastructure to provide the right services."

"Three of the potential 16 feature film projects we have in the Highlands and Islands are follow ups from contacts that SHIFC representatives made last year at Cannes so that shows the effectiveness of our work at the festival."

She explained: "There will be 30,000 film executives from around the world at the festival, not just directors but distributors and production company executives so it's a fantastic place for showcasing the Highlands and Islands and for finding new business. You just have to be there."

Since 1994 the SHIFC has had a presence in Cannes as part of a wider Scottish delegation and over the years it has built up an extensive network of national and international business contacts including production executives who have either filmed or intend to film in Scotland, and delegates from a wide range of agencies who support the industry.

By working with the UK Film Centre in Cannes and co-ordinating meetings, lunches and receptions in order to network with these influential contacts, the SHIFC aims to raise global awareness of Scotland, and the Highlands and Islands in particular, as a location for filming and as a good base for crews, film facilities and services.

Gordon & MacPhail’s Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky has teamed up with the Scottish Highlands & Islands Film Commission to sponsor the "Benromach Villa" at the Cannes Film Festival 2008.

The villa will be used by the SHIFC between 14th-25th May as a platform to promote the delights of Moray, demonstrating that area's food, drink, music and culture as well as its scenic value.

A reception on a Macbeth theme - related to a cultural tourism pilot devised by locally based Seabridge Consultants and Atlantic Marketing about the real Macbeth (who was born in Moray) - has been arranged, with more than 300 specially selected film industry guests being invited, while Johnstons of Elgin have designed a tartan for SHIFC which will be unveiled at the reception.

Other local Moray partners include Open Brolly (MovieSite), Buckie Bears, MacLeans Highland Bakery, Pride of Scotland-Lossie Seafoods Ltd, MacBeths the Butcher and Wester Lawrenceton Cheese.

Ms Shorthouse concluded: "We must also remember that Cannes is a TV as well as a film festival and the Highlands and Islands is showing up more and more on television, particularly in the form of nature programmes. There are some tremendous opportunities for us here."

ENDS

Further media information from Caroline Keith at theKeithconsultancy on 07734 543923