Channel 4 makes investment in True Vision Yorkshire

Broadcaster Channel 4 has taken a minority investment in Leeds-based factual film producing firm True Vision Yorkshire.

True Vision Yorkshire is the first Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund investment in Leeds since the broadcaster announced it would be locating its new National HQ in the city. True Vision Yorkshire is a factual indie led by multi-award-winning producer and director, Anna Hall.

Hall, Founder and Creative Director, said: “My passion has always been to make hard hitting films which can genuinely make a difference to people’s lives – and my other passion has been to create a sustainable base in my home city of Leeds to mentor other directors and film-makers to do the same! I am thrilled that Channel 4 have seen the potential in our team and we are incredibly excited about developing our slate in the next few years.”

True Vision Yorkshire was founded in 2014 by Hall with Brian Woods and Jezza Neumann from True Vision.  Woods and Neumann are also shareholders in True Vision Yorkshire and will continue to support the success, growth and creativity of the company.  The founders have particularly championed new talent, with the seven out of eight directors who have delivered films in the last 18 months being first-time female film-makers.

The firm is responsible for a host of hard-hitting documentaries including Behind Closed Doors for the BBC and The Truth About Muslim Marriage for Channel 4.  Hall, director of BAFTA-nominated documentaries including The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Gangs and Catching a Killer, will create more of the critically acclaimed crime series through True Vision Yorkshire.

Hall is the only female director ever to be nominated for the BAFTA craft awards Best Factual Director two years running. The company will continue to focus on ground-breaking, high impact documentary singles and series whilst also developing returning factual formats.

Martin Baker, Channel 4 Director of Commercial Affairs, who oversees the Indie Growth Fund, said: “This deal reinforces Channel 4’s commitment to driving growth in the creative industries outside London.  As we prepare to set up our new HQ in Leeds there could not be a better time to invest in a growing Leeds-based Indie.”

This is the second investment in a Leeds-based production company for the Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund, the first being in True North which was sold to Sky in 2017.

Caroline Murphy, Head of the Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund, said: “I am delighted to see this deal being done just as I join the Indie Growth Fund.  It shows that Channel 4 really is delivering on its commitment to Nations and Regions indies.”

The Indie Growth Fund was launched in 2014 to provide additional support to the UK independent creative sector by providing access to funding for indies based in the UK to help them to grow and develop their business. It has made 15 investments to date and there are now 11 companies in the portfolio.