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Glasgow Film Festival
20/02/2012
The First Minister met with some of the biggest names in Scottish film production in Glasgow tonight to encourage investment in Scotland's film industry.
Alex Salmond and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop hosted the get-together for potential investors this evening as part of the Glasgow Film Festival - all with the aim of getting more movies made in Scotland.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"Scotland's well-known already for its creative film-making talent and for being a fantastic location for movie-makers from all over the world.
"But we also have the potential to be a production powerhouse ourselves. Scotland has the talent and the capacity to create more films right here and to be a centre of production for the film industry.
"The crucial next step is to attract more international film finance to Scotland, and tonight's event is an important way for us to do that. Bringing potential film investors together with talented Scottish film-makers at the Glasgow Film Festival is another signal of our commitment to supporting the home-grown film industry and to putting Scotland on the big screen."
Scottish writer Mark Millar said:
"Historically, you had to live in LA to work in Hollywood, but technology means we can do this from anywhere now. Millarworld alone has six big budget features with the studios and I haven't been in LA for over three years.
"But it doesn't all have to be massive budget fare. A good movie can make back 100 times the initial investment. All you need is a good idea and Scottish creators are hardly short of good ideas. The reason I pitched this plan to Alex is because I know a lot of great film-makers who needed investors and I know a lot of rich guys looking for a new opportunity in these changing times.
"The plan here is to put them both in the same room and overhaul what we understand by Scottish cinema overnight. Spain did it, New Zealand did it and South America did it. I want Scottish cinema to be a powerhouse thinking globally and bringing in jobs, cash and new opportunities. It's time to stop thinking small."
Related information
2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland, an opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland.
The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
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