Today (London, Tuesday 07 Oct), Film London unveiled plans to open future editions of the popular Film London Production Finance Market (PFM) to early-stage Intellectual Property (IP) and content creators working across a range of formats.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day film financing market in Central London, Film London CEO Adrian Wootton OBE mapped out a new direction for the PFM, introducing a new UPstream strand bringing outstanding early-stage projects from the worlds of film, TV, games, podcasting, publishing and theatre to the market.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:

“As a cultural charity, our focus is on sustainable growth, looking after city and society. As society changes, and our ways of telling stories evolve, so must Film London’s offer evolve to keep pace with industry changes, and to welcome the new guard of creator and film-maker.

“PFM has long been a flagship event for Film London, creating opportunities that have led to award-winning productions like Grand Theft Hamlet, Tish, Last Swim. But we’ve always innovated to stay relevant and this decision to widen out the PFM to include a greater range of creators and film-makers is absolutely due. Plus, it will be the first market in the UK to combine film projects and IP, offering a completely new opportunity for creators and investors to show and discover new content unavailable anywhere else. The PFM has always been a ‘one-to-watch’ market, and that will only be more true with the future addition of UPstream@PFM.”

Jordan McGarry, Head of Talent Development and Production at Film London, said:

“We all know that great films and TV series don’t always start with a screenwriter: sometimes they start with an author, an illustrator, a playwright, a games studio or, increasingly, a creator from the online space. UPstream has broadened the talent pool we work with in a really exciting way, allowing us to support a wider range of forms and voices, and to keep pace with what audiences want and industry needs right now.”

The PFM connects filmmakers and financiers from across the globe. Currently, the Main Market strand accommodates feature film projects with experienced producers attached, while the New Talent Strand supports first/second time feature filmmaker teams. Over the last decade, PFM has introduced 708 projects to financiers, studios and sales agents, with the total value of deals reaching over £254 million.

Film London’s UPstream is a monthly, subscription-only multi-format IP showcase on Substack, bringing early-stage projects from the worlds of film, TV, games, podcasting, publishing and theatre. It foregrounds a meticulously-curated selection of new and exciting adaptable IP and early stage projects, drawn from the UK, as well as Europe and the US, for an audience of both domestic and international Film, TV and Games producers and development executives. Featured creatives include a Frieze Prize Winner, an Emmy Award-nominated journalist, YouTube talent and BFI NETWORK talent prepping for the move to longform.

Helena Mackenzie, Head of Business Development and Inward Investment at Film London, said:

“I’m really proud of where we’ve brought the Production Finance Market since its first edition 19 years ago. It’s supported films and helped get them made – find them ‘angels’ - during times when others were fearing to tread. But we’ve also got to listen what industry is telling us, and to tap into where the next level of talent to be developed and supported is coming from. So I’m certain the next iteration of PFM will be even more exciting for industry and talent alike”.

Supported by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Mayor of London, the BFI’s UK Focus Fund (awarding National Lottery Funding), the Film London Production Finance Market takes place during the BFI London Film Festival.

Over the next two days, the PFM will see 110 producers and filmmakers and 74 financiers come together for a series of 1:1 meetings as a way to navigate potential business partners and investment.

Titles selected for the Main Market this year include:

• 1966, 1966 Productions (UK)
• Can I Call You Back?, Pembridge Film Productions (Ireland)
• Hacking America, Viva Films (UK)
• Should Mami Jane Die, Potboiler Productions (UK)
• Some Day It May Be You, Borscht Films (US)

New Talent Strand titles include:

• We’ve Been Here Before, 2020 Films (UK)
• Rivermouth, Flumeri Films (UK)
• Owl Cat Goose Pig, Rapt Pictures UK (Wales)
• Touch Me, Pipedream Productions (Ireland)
• The School of Hope, Impact House Studios (USA)