November 2011
Mike Kelly led a workshop on understanding and 'right-sizing' the cost of screenplays for applicants for funding under Film London's Microwave scheme; "I just wanted to say thanks very much. I found it incredibly helpful and easy to understand and it was really useful - it made us think about what we have to be aware of to make our project viable"
Finance & the International Film Business opened for applications.
The programme will enable participants to develop their knowledge and proficiency in film finance, film business and business affairs including e.g. in-depth study of financing and co-production opportunities, the economics of the international film industry and the ownership and use of intellectual property rights. This Northern Alliance programme is supported by the Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future 2 and the leading Media law firm Wiggin.
The chief executives of the Film Distributors Association and Film Export UK will be amongst the experienced industry experts participants will have access to and who will help generate tangible benefits from the programme for participants and their projects. Bursaries and financial support for travel, accommodation and carer’s needs are available.
The programme commences in January and is open for applications now; simply e-mail info@northern-alliance.co.uk for more details.
The British Guide to Showing Off premiered in outrageous fashion in London and opened in cinemas across the UK. ‘The exuberant and joyous look into the life and work of engagingly outrageous British artist Andrew Logan is sensitively detailed in Jes Benstock’s documentary’ (Screen) - made with the support of Film London’s Microwave programme which Northern Alliance helped design and for which it provides advice on the finance, business affairs and physical production of each film.
http://www.britishguidetoshowingoff.com/
‘The cinematic event of the year’ (Empire)
October 2011
Strawberry Fields, ‘a distinct and refreshingly feminine spin on a complex story of lust, rivalry and liberation’ premiered at the London Film Festival. The film was made with the support of Film London’s Microwave programme which Northern Alliance helped design and for which it provides advice on the finance, business affairs and physical production of each film.
http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff/node/1812
September 2011
Chris Chandler, Ian Christie and Mike Kelly joined Bonny Greer, Sara Selwood, Christine Whitney, Catharine Des Forges and Christine Langan at the National Film Theatre in London to launch ‘Opening Our Eyes’, the report on the cultural contribution of film in the UK by Northern Alliance and Ipsos MediaCT. The report together with some of the extensive data it is based upon can be accessed via the BFI website:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/publications/openingoureyes/
‘I think you will agree the results are fascinating.’ Amanda Nevill, BFI Director
The 2011 edition of the NFVF’s Sediba International Financing Programme for Producers concluded;’ I want to thank the NFVF for granting me the opportunity to attend the course. Both of the UK industry experts, Angus Finney and Mike Kelly, are brilliant speakers and very knowledgeable in their fields of expertise. They also both have a clear and enlightening manner of sharing information. I am sure that I can speak for all who attended the course, in stating that we have grown immensely as filmmakers and have gained insight on all the aspects of feature film production, sales, distribution, marketing and finance. I will encourage all filmmakers that are serious about producing film to attend this course, no matter how experienced they think they are.’
July 2011
Congratulations to Sara Blecher, producer and director of ‘Otelo Burning’ which was selected to open the Durban International Film Festival. Sara participated in the NFVF’s Sediba programme, including developing the business strategy for ‘Otelo Burning’, which Northern Alliance’s Mike Kelly helps deliver.
http://www.oteloburning.com/
Take 12.3, the third edition of the Northern Alliance training programme that offers the best advice on how to survive and thrive in a digital age concluded with participants remarking “Thank you very much for the opportunity to take part in this wonderful programme..” “..as well as new ideas, fresh insights and specialist knowledge, the human connections that have come out of Take 12.3 have also been fantastic, and are already having a positive impact on my business developments”.
May 2011
Northern Alliance’s Mike Kelly chaired ‘Transatlantic Tax Incentives For Film’ at BAFTA which included presentations from Joseph Chianese, SVP of Tax & Production Planning, Entertainment Partners, David Carter, President of Canada Film Capital and John Graydon, Director of Business Services Film Unit, RSM Tenon Media. ‘Huge thanks to you all for a really great event on Friday.’
April 2011
On behalf of Northern Alliance client Film London, the filmmakers and co-financiers, Mike Kelly led negotiations with Revolver Entertainment as they acquired the UK distribution rights to ‘Ill Manors’, the directorial debut of Ben Drew, a.k.a. rapper-singer Plan B.
Ill Manors
Northern Alliance helped Sigma Films as they secured £250,000 from Creative Scotland under its programme to support the exploration of new investment models. The investment will enable Sigma to become an active partner with Icon and Arrow on two upcoming releases of films by David Mackenzie; ‘You Instead’ and ‘Perfect Sense’
www.sigmafilms.com/films/
March 2011
Northern Alliance helped the UK Film Council respond to the EU’s consultation on its €3.6 billion Competitiveness And Innovation Programme.
consultation-uk-film-council
With the support of Skillset and NESTA, Take 12.3, the third edition of the training programme that offers the best advice on how to survive and thrive in a digital age commenced with Mike Kelly, Morgan Holt and Sandy Markwick leading the first workshop. In an independent evaluation 93.3 % of participants in the last edition of Take 12 stated that the programme was either very, or extremely useful to them: “The best quality training I have received” “fascinating, insightful, engaging and absorbing....a triumph.”
February 2011
Congratulations to Northern Alliance client Sodalite Films who have been accepted on the Connect Midlands ‘Springboard’ programme for entrepreneurs:
Sodalite Films ‘Springboard’
Mike Kelly hosted a session on film finance and the film business as part of DIVA’s Graduate Fellowship Programme. ‘Just a short note to say a big THANK YOU for delivering the finance session on Thursday. We received great feedback from the Fellows, which is brilliant!
November 2010
The final session of the 2010 Sediba programme took place in Johhanesburg:
"The NFVF's Producers Programme is a truly pioneering programme. It has given me the confidence to begin engaging with producers and other industry role-players at an international level. Armed with the knowledge gained from the programme, I have already begun co-producing with two internationally respected producers on different feature projects within the space of one year. I have been empowered as a producer beyond measure."
Sediba 2011 commences in May ;
sediba-international-financing-programme-producers-2011-call-entries
Mike Kelly led a Master-class on the international film business in Cape Town organised by the Cape Film Commission: “The workshop went incredibly well so thank you very much for all your input and expertise” 100% of attendees agreed; The workshop was interactive , fun and beneficial to their business, "Please can we have more time with Mike Kelly".
October 2010
Northern Alliance’s Mike Kelly led a workshop on Starting and Growing A Film or TV Business for Ravensbourne College: “Excellent”. “Fantastic, high calibre, knowledgeable and easy-to-follow”. “Very, very good, the best session I’ve been to yet.” “Mike is the most interesting and creative accountant I’ve ever met.”
September 2010
Northern Alliance assisted the UK Film Council in responding to HM Treasury’s and the UK Department For Business, Skills and Innovation’s consultation; ‘Financing a Private Sector Recovery’. (Please e-mail info@northern-alliance.co.uk if you would like a copy of the consultation document)
August 2010
Northern Alliance’s Mike Kelly has become a mentor to award winning design studio RAW as part of NESTA’s Creative Business Mentor Network. (see www.rawdesignstudio.co.uk for more information on RAW and www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/creative_industries for more information on the scheme)
July 2010
Mike Kelly helped launch the inaugural Durban FilmMart:
“I would like to personally thank for your support of the 2010 programme. The FilmMart proved to be a resounding success, the feedback has been very positive and the level of success achieved would not have been possible without your valued participation. Your session on film finance appears to have been a particular hit.”
Toni Monty - Durban Film Office
June 2010
The 2nd SWS/FAW cohort programme concluded in Bristol with Mike Kelly and Angus Finney helping participants from the TV and Film industries finalise their business and personal development plans.
'I found the business development course really beneficial'
Alan Graves – Producer; The Tournament
May 2010
‘Strawberry Fields’ wrapped after shooting entirely in location in Kent. It is the 5th film in the BBC-Film London Microwave scheme for which Northern Alliance provides advice on production finance, business affairs and physical production. (see microwave.filmlondon.org.uk for more details)
April 2010
Take 12 UK, the business innovation programme delivered by Northern Alliance in partnership with the leading digital agency Transform, formally ended in April after helping over 2 dozen businesses to re-examine their business models and identify opportunities to thrive in a digital age.
"Thank you so much for what proved to be a great programme. I really got a lot out of it."
Al Clark - Wellington Films
“Now that the programme is completed, I just wanted to say thank you for organising such professional and interesting sessions. Park Circus really benefited”
John Letham - Park Circus
“I have got Take12 to thank for a lot of the ideas for the service we hope to provide. I cannot begin to say how useful I have found the course.”
Daniel Lennox - Pinewood Shepperton
March 2010
Northern Alliance’s report on the Corporate Finance of SMEs in the UK Film Industry was published by the UK Film Council. (Please e-mail info@northern-alliance.co.uk if you would like a copy)
“A cracking piece of work”
Steve Allen – Barclays Bank
February 2010
Northern Alliance’s Mike Kelly helped BAFTA deliver an event on film funding options and strategies
“Thank you so much for so ably chairing the event. I felt it went very well – it exceeded my expectations and the feedback from the audience was excellent.”
Tricia Tuttle - BAFTA
January 2010
Northern Alliance was commissioned by Royal and Derngate Theatres to explore an opportunity to extend its Northampton based business.
December 2009
Northern Alliance completed a further review of Finance Wales’ IP Fund, the gap financier that backs film, TV, new media and music production. (see www.financewales.co.uk/what_we_do.aspx)
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