£550k for Scotland's screen sector

Paranormal horror, ‘Hush’, and an ITV mini-series ‘Muncie’ will share Production Growth Funding (PGF) awards totalling £553,966. The Scottish Government funding is administered by Creative Scotland to successful productions.

‘Hush’, awarded £303,966 PGF, is being produced by Brian Coffey (‘The Legend of Barney Thomson’, ‘Starred Up’, ‘Citadel’) from Glasgow based Sigma Films and Thruline Entertainment’s Danny Sherman in partnership with Catalyst Global Media, the London based multifaceted film and television financing and production company, and Creative Scotland.

Starring Celia Imrie (‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’, ‘Calendar Girls’, ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’), Ben Lloyd-Hughes (‘Insurgent’, ‘Divergent’, ‘The Hour TV’) and Florence Pugh (‘The Falling’, ‘Marcella’), the film is being directed by Olaf de Fleur (‘Brave Men’s Blood’, ‘City State’), ‘Hush’ has begun shooting at locations in Scotland.

Embankment Films handle worldwide sales on ‘Hush’.

Originally a horror novella written by Eva Konstantopoulos and published by self-publishing label Author House, ‘Hush’ was adapted by Ben Ketai (‘The Forest’, ‘The Strangers 2’, ‘30 Days Of Night: Dark Days’) with revisions by Konstantopoulos.

The three-part crime mini-series for ITV, working title ‘Muncie’, is supported with £250,000 PGF and will be produced by award-winning World Productions (‘Line of Duty’, ‘Code of a Killer’) and Finlaggan Films, and will start filming in Scotland this month. Written by Nick Stevens, the mini-series will be directed by John Strickland, who helmed the recent ‘Line of Duty’ finale.

The Production Growth Fund aims to attract and grow film production in Scotland, creating employment opportunities, encouraging the use of production facilities companies and delivering significant economic benefit.

The award for ‘Hush’ comes on the back of recently announced Production Growth Fund support for ‘Trainspotting 2’ (£500,000) and ‘Churchill’ (£250,000), both currently being filmed in Scotland.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop made the announcement while speaking at Scotland’s Screen Summit on the opening day of the 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Ms Hyslop said:

“We know that investment in screen can bring great rewards: more jobs, further growth, attract outside investment, and ultimately bolster Scotland’s international reputation.

“Awards such as the Production Growth Fund are important because they anchor productions here, in Scotland. The PGF helps talented producers finance projects, and in turn, it has a direct investment in our workforce, growing our creative sector.

“Looking at ‘Hush’, and other major film productions such as Trainspotting and Churchill, alongside ITV’s three-part TV mini-series, this fund is supporting the screen sector in Scotland and delivering against its aim.”

‘Hush’ Producer Brian Coffey said:

"I’m delighted to be making this truly international film here in Scotland thanks to the incredible support of Creative Scotland and Scottish Government. Funding from the Production Growth Fund has allowed us to retain the entire shoot in Scotland, removing the need to go elsewhere to access funding and that means that more money goes where it should, on the screen. Glasgow is one of the easiest cities in the world to work in; its 19th century architecture and parks are a visual treat and its crews are world class. "

Natalie Usher Director of Screen at Creative Scotland, said:

“We are very proud to support Brian and the team at Sigma and Thruline in the production of ‘Hush’ and to realise this exciting project completely in Scotland. We are also delighted to be able to support the production of the forthcoming three-part ITV series, ‘Muncie’. One of the key aims of the Production Growth Fund is to support Scottish producers as well as attract production into Scotland. Demand for the fund has been extremely high and the projects supported so far will not only further raise the profile of Scotland as an international destination for filmmakers, but also support our world-class craft and technical talent.”