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Film London Spotlights Local Animation Scene with U.S. Execs

In an effort to encourage international co-production, representatives from FreemantleMedia Enterprises, Marvel Television, Cinema Management Group, Tricon Kids and PBS travel to the British capital in a three-day “familiarization” trip.

Film London is bringing five high-profile animation executives from the US to London this week in a bid to promote the capital’s animation industry, encourage co-production and boost the city’s animation industry.

The three-day Familiarisation trip will give visiting executives from FreemantleMedia Enterprises, Marvel Television, Cinema Management Group, Tricon Kids and PBS an intimate, insider’s view of London’s animation industry, along with seminars highlighting the UK’s generous tax reliefs (up to 25% of qualifying expenditure on animated programmes) and the ease of conducting business with the capital’s highly-skilled industry.

Key for London-based animators will be the chance to showcase their companies and pitch their productions to the visiting execs on a one-to-one basis. Coordinated by Film London, these bespoke sessions aim to foster vital business connections by highlighting the city’s creative talent while offering unprecedented access to some of the American industry’s key decision makers.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said, “London has an excellent track record when it comes to producing exciting, engaging animation. From Peppa Pig to The Amazing World of Gumball, our city’s animators have created the kind of productions that keep viewers coming back for more. When you combine this talent with our generous tax reliefs it is a pretty powerful offer. This is why we are bringing some of the US’s biggest animation companies to London to enable them to connect with London’s animation houses to ensure our industry exploits this opportunity.”

Warren Franklin, CEO of Eaglecliff Entertainment and one of 2014’s Familiarisation trip attendees, said, “With the industry developing at such a rapid pace the 2014 familiarisation trip was invaluable in offering an intensive, expertly-curated overview of what London has to offer. It introduced us to some brilliant creative talent and led to some strong partnerships that just wouldn’t have happened without Film London’s support.”

Film London hosts several Familiarisation trips throughout the year, taking in the breadth of the city’s screen industries. While the duration, format and content of the trips are varied and tailored to the specific industry in question, they are united by three overarching aims: to promote London’s skills, facilities and versatility; to encourage co-production and to bring overseas investment into the city.

Source: Film London

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.