Cannes Film Festival is celebrating its 75th edition this year, and members of the British Film Commission team attended the Cannes Film Market to meet with our European partners, present our work at the UK Pavilion, and showcase the UK’s nations and regions, England, London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Coinciding with the festival, the BFC and the Italian Film Commissions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Italian Pavilion on 20^th May, to further strengthen collaboration between the UK and Italian screen industries, and to facilitate film and High-end TV production between the two countries.

The BFC also featured as the headline partner of Screen International’s UK Reception, celebrating the UK’s world-class screen sectors with the UK screen agencies, Creative Wales, Film London, Filming in England, Northern Ireland Screen and Screen Scotland.

We were also delighted to host the panel discussion ‘Nowhere Special? Collaboration And Co-production Cross-Border’, as part of the UK Pavilion industry programme. Moderated by BFC’s CEO Adrian Wootton OBE, the session saw director and producer Uberto Pasolini, Northern Ireland Screen’s Ursula Devine and Italian Film Commission’s Cristina Priarone offer first-hand insights into the benefits of collaboration between international film commissions, cross-border co-productions, and filming in the Northern Ireland on recent production Nowhere Special. Here are some highlights from the discussion:

Adrian Wootton OBE stressed the importance of working with European partners to support productions:‘’We are competitors, but we also need to be collaborators and make it as easy as possible for people to make movies across all of our regions.’’

Cristina Priarone, President of the Italian Film Commissions, further emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration, by confirming that: ‘’Co-production is our focus. They allow Italian producers to get more opportunities and increase their international standing.’’

Speaking on the MoU between the BFC and the Italian Film Commissions, she said: ‘’To build up the right pathway is a key point. Our MoU with the BFC is important so we can help the producers and give awareness of where you can find opportunities’’.

Uberto Pasolini added: ‘’It is fantastically important to hear the desire to work together between film commissions. When you have that you are encouraged to take advantage of creative decisions and opportunities.’’

Whilst discussing filming in Northern Ireland for Nowhere Special, Pasolini stated: ‘’I warmly recommend Northern Ireland. In a short period of time they developed an extraordinary crew base and they have an extraordinary cast pool given the size of the country.’’

Northern Ireland Screen’s Development Executive, Ursula Devine, further highlighted the strengths of the nation’s screen sector: ‘’We are focussing on growing opportunities for local talent. The industry really kicked off with Game of Thrones. We continue to invest in people and infrastructure. If we build it they will come.’’

Adrian Wootton OBE concluded by stating: ‘’Ultimately, creative talent isn’t interested in borders, they’re interested in working and creating and it’s our jobs to make that happen.’’

Listen to the entire panel below:

Moderator:

Adrian Wootton OBE, CEO, British Film Commission

Speakers:

Ursula Devine, Development Executive, Northern Ireland Screen

Uberto Pasolini, Director & Producer, Nowhere Special, Redwave Films

Cristina Priarone, President, Italia Film Commissions and General Manager, Roma Lazio Film Commission

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