Yorkshire production companies win support from Channel 4

A Sheffield firm is among eight independent production companies from across the UK named in this year’s Channel 4 Emerging Indie Fund, with another company from the same city among six indies receiving discretionary awards.

Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund offers a package of support to independent production companies to help them grow, secure more business and enhance their long-term prospects.

Benefits include: financial assistance for slate development; regular access to a Channel 4 Commissioning Editor; regular contact with Channel 4’s Head of Indie Relations Rebecca Thompson; development workshops; expert advice from a variety of departments within Channel 4 – commercial affairs, legal department and advertising funded programming teams; access to the 4Producers Network, and advice from a business development and slate development consultants.

Among the recipients of this year’s main award are Enon films, of Sheffield.

Another Sheffield production company, Lunar Lander, has secured a discretionary award. This means it will gain access to 4Producers’ networking events, development workshops and funds to help towards development of programme ideas.

It will also benefit from regular access to head of indie relations, Rebecca Thompson.

Channel 4’s director of commissioning operations, Emma Hardy, said: “The Emerging Indie Fund has shown it can make a tangible difference to production companies and help them grow and secure commissions.

“Since its launch in 2020, more than 30 nations and regions based companies which have been invited to be part of the Emerging Indie Fund have gone on to secure commissions which shows the impact the fund can have on helping indies become more established.”

Thompson added: “This is a difficult time for indies, particularly small indies based in the nations and regions, so we are happy to be able to support these companies to make them more robust and also help them shape their ideas to put them in the best possible position to win commissions.”