CREATIVE Scotland's new agency to help boost Scotland’s troubled screen industry will launch today at the start of the Edinburgh's TV festival.
Screen Scotland's first day comes two years after the creation of the unit was first announced at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and eight years after the scrapping of Scottish Screen.
The quango, which will have a £20 million budget, will be expected to more than double the value of the industry - increasing its worth up to £160m - within the space of five years.
WATCH: Robert the Bruce in spotlight as Outlaw King trailer released
It comes as new figures revealed that the television and film industry spent £95 million in Scotland last year - the highest since records began.
Productions shot in the country in 2017 include smash hit blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War, and Outlaw King, the Netflix multi-million pound biopic of Robert The Bruce, starring Star Trek's Chris Pine.
The creation of the screen unit has long been demanded by industry figures in Scotland, who were critical of Scottish Screen merger with the Scottish Arts Council to form Creative Scotland.
Robert Wilson, Chair of Creative Scotland said: “I’m enormously proud to be announcing this significant moment in the development of Scotland’s screen sector. As a result of the determination and focus of all our partners, the hard work of our dedicated team, and the incredible support of the Scottish Government and the National Lottery, we are another step closer to delivering a strong and confident sector for the benefit of all.
“Building on the sector’s achievements to date, these latest announcements deliver further on the promise to increase funding, build stronger relationships at home, in the wider UK and internationally, increase capacity within Screen Scotland, working in close collaboration with the sector to ensure its success.
“I firmly believe that Screen Scotland’s identity offers a clear and distinct brand that will resonate with the sector and our national and international partners."
Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m delighted to welcome Screen Scotland, a vital component in our wider vision for Scotland’s screen sector.
“It aims to attract, retain and develop talent and businesses in Scotland. There is new and enhanced funding and support that puts Scotland on a par with other nations. The new Broadcast Content Fund will invest £3m in our TV sector to provide it with the targeted financial backing it needs to develop.
WATCH: Robert the Bruce in spotlight as Outlaw King trailer released
“Scotland has the talent and the opportunity to grow its TV sector and the job of Screen Scotland is to make sure we seize the moment.”
Creative Scotland also announced a new £3 million Broadcast Content Fund, to “support the development and production of distinctive high-quality projects for television broadcast, digital broadcast and streaming platforms that promote Scotland’s culture, creativity and diversity to the world.”
The fund, exclusively for Scottish-based production companies,will hand out grants of £10,000-£500,000.
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