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4 news EU approves film tax relief The European Commission has given State Aid approval to the new film tax relief on the basis of some changes being made to the cultural test. The new tax credit strongly encourages UKbased producers to work within the UK and to focus on aspects of British culture. It can help to sustain a dynamic and recognisable British film industry and works to encourage inward investment in the UK. In terms of benefit to Scotland, the new tax credit will help Scottish Screen continue to support indigenous talent and production, as well as to encourage productions to shoot in Scotland. The new UK points system works in the same way as Scottish Screen’s, which means that productions supported by Scottish Screen should also be able to access the tax credit, further promoting Scotland as a place to make films. The main highlights of the new tax relief will mean • For films that cost up to £20 million, the Film Production Company (FPC) will be able to claim an enhanced deduction of 100% with a payable cash element of 25% of UK qualifying film production expenditure. • For films that cost over £20 million, the FPC will be able to claim an enhanced deduction of 80% with a payable cash element of 20% of UK qualifying film production expenditure. • The minimum UK spend threshold for qualifying films will be set at 25%. Revised Cultural Test The revised cultural test will come into force once approved by the House of Commons and House of Lords. The proposed date of its implementation is 1 January 2007. The changes from the previously published cultural test are: • The Cultural Content section has been increased from 4 to 16 points. • The Cultural Hubs section has been reduced from 15 to 3 points. • The Cultural Practitioners section has been reduced from 13 to 8 points. • A new section has been added, Cultural Contribution, to which 4 points have been allocated. • The total number of points available is reduced to 31 but the required pass mark of 16 remains unchanged, subject to a ‘golden points’ rule as follows: A film scoring all 15 of the points available in sections C, D and A4, and less than two points in section A1 and less than two points in section A2, must additionally obtain the points in section A3 to pass the cultural test. If a film scores two points in section A1 or two points in section A2, it will not require the additional points from section A3 in order to pass the test. Guidance on how the test will work. The Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) revised guidance on the cultural test is available in full from their website at www. culture.gov.uk. The DCMS has set up a special e-mail address to capture queries. Please e-mail culturaltest@ culture.gsi.gov.uk with your enquiries. Transitional Arrangements The HM Treasury has published details of the transitional arrangements which are available from their website www.hmrc.gov.uk. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes commented: “The Commission is satisfied that the revised UK film tax incentive scheme complies with the conditions set out in its Audiovisual Communication. As with other film support schemes which meet these conditions, we have been able to apply the cultural derogation to the general ban on State aid in the Treaty. We welcome the guidance published by the UK authorities which confirms that European co-productions can benefit from the scheme.” Ken Hay of Scottish Screen welcomed EU approval and said: “This will at long last provide certainty for the whole of the industry about both how the tax credit will operate and from when. “The only aspect of the new system which we would like to consider further is how it will affect minority co-productions. We believe strongly in supporting Scottish producers to form relationships with fellow producers and production companies around the world. The proposed points system may make it difficult for Scottish companies to receive support for minority co-productions. Often a significant portion of ‘stories’ being made as international co-productions, while relevant to the British public, may not reflect significantly on an aspect of British culture. “There is still work to be done in clarifying some of the definitions in the new guidelines, and we will work with our partners in the UK Film Council, DCMS and PACT to ensure that this is done as promptly as possible.” New Funding for Education Projects Scottish Screen has launched a new funding strand for education initiatives. The fund has been set up to promote the development of moving image education and moving image media literacy, both in formal and informal educational contexts. Scottish Screen is currently piloting the Moving Image Education project in a cluster of six primary schools in Brechin, in partnership with the Scottish Executive and Angus Digital Media Centre. The pilot demonstrates the potential of moving image education, not just as a critical literacy in the 21st century, but also as a new way of teaching across the curriculum. Scottish Screen wants to see moving image education developed further, and more widely and sustainably deployed. Applicants must be either a Scottish local authority, an organisation with a national remit for education in Scotland, or a Scottish organisation with a regional remit for education seeking to develop models of moving image education of potentially national significance and applicability. The type of programmes eligible for funding include: professional development for schools professionals; development of moving image education training programmes, skills, courses and resources within local authorities or teacher education institutions; or professional development for education professionals outwith schools. The fund is for £80,000 per annum for 2007/8 and 2008/9. The first call for applications will close on 6 February for consideration at an Investment Meeting on 6 March 2007. For more information about moving image education and the funding opportunities available, please visit the Scottish Screen website (www.scottishscreen/ education or www.scottishscreen/ funding). www.scottishscreen.com
news 5 DEVELOPMENT NEWS AT SCOTTISH SCREEN It is just over a month since our three new Development Executives (Robbie Allen, Leslie Finlay and Becky Lloyd) started at Scottish Screen working alongside Carole Sheridan, Head of Talent and Creativity. This first month has been incredibly fruitful with the team taking the opportunity to get to know the projects that are currently in development with Scottish Screen, meeting talent, and potential partners such as the UK Film Council, BBC Films, Film Four, BBC Scotland and STV. Now that the team is bedded in we thought it might be useful to provide a brief summary of how the development team will work in order to help orientate both talent and companies who either have projects in development with Scottish Screen or who are considering applying to Scottish Screen for support. The development team at Scottish Screen will work across both short film production and across the development of film, television and interactive media projects. The team will also work individually with the Head of Talent and Creativity implementing and overseeing future initiatives such as the Future Fund, the Pilot Fund and the Market-led Development Initiative. Once these initiatives are up and running a key contact will be established and publicised. At present each of the development team has been allocated projects from the existing slate of development projects that Scottish Screen supports. If you have a project in ‘active’ development at Scottish Screen you should have been either introduced to or contacted by the Development Executive who is looking after your project. If you have not yet been informed who will be looking after your project then please contact Carole Sheridan at carole.sheridan@scottishscreen.com and she will let you know who to contact in the future. If you have a short film that has received funding but is not yet complete please contact Becky Lloyd at becky.lloyd@scottishscreen.com. Becky will oversee the delivery of your project and will be able to guide you as to where you can get further advice on marketing and distributing your film. For anyone making an application to Scottish Screen for short film or content development support, the following process will apply: • Your project will be checked to ensure that all the documentation Scottish Screen requires to assess your project is included in your application form. • If your application is eligible and all essential documentation is included in your application then your application will go forward for consideration at the next Investment Meeting. • At this point you will be notified who the Lead Officer will be i.e the Development Executive who will assess and present your project at the Investment Meeting. Any additional or complementary information about your project should be communicated through that Lead Officer. • If your application is ineligible then you will be advised in writing why the application has not gone forward for assessment. • At the Investment Meeting the Lead Officer will present their assessment of your project and the Chair will make a considered decision based upon their recommendation as to whether to support the project or not. Where external feedback is sought this will be incorporated into the Lead Officer’s assessment. • If the decision is to make an investment, the level of which and investment conditions, will be agreed at the Investment Meeting. • You will be notified in writing of the investment decision including any rejected criteria by 5pm on the day following the Investment Meeting. All the information you require to make an application is included in the Investment Guidelines which are available on the Scottish Screen website www.scottishscreen.com/funding. For general enquiries about the application process - Becky Alves Investment Administrator investment@scottishscreen.com Please note Becky Alves is currently covering maternity leave for Judy Anderson. For enquiries from awardees relating to contracts or legal issues - Anita Cox Business Affairs Anita.cox@scottishscreen.com Susan Harrison Legal Secretary Susan.harrison@scottishscreen.com For enquiries relating to a Scottish Screen supported project or with regards any new short film projects or development applications - Investment Awards made by Scottish Screen The following awards were made at the Investment Meeting held on Tuesday 31 October and total £7,650 from Lottery funds. Content Development Project: Saint Abandon’s Company: Makar Productions Ltd Contact: Eddie Dick Award: £7,650 Cassie is a teacher who discovers, literally, that life can be hell. The following awards were made at the Investment Meeting held on Tuesday 14 November and total £840 from Lottery funds. Markets and Festivals Project: Foighidinn Company: Young Films Contact: Chris Young Award: £840 On Christmas Eve on the Isle of Skye, Great Grandfather tells 3 brothers the story of the most patient human heart ever - the legend of the Eldest Son of Leving of Levingston. Further information Christine McMillan, Communications Officer 0141 302 1746 Robbie Allen Development Executive Robbie.allen@scottishscreen.com Leslie Finlay Development Executive Lesley.finlay@scottishscreen.com Becky Lloyd Development Executive Becky.lloyd@scottishscreen.com Please note Becky works on a Monday and Wednesday only. For enquiries relating to long form content production and forthcoming initiatives – Carole Sheridan Head of Talent & Creativity carole.sheridan@scottishscreen.com Alternatively you can call Scottish Screen direct on 0141 302 1700. www.scottishscreen.com
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Page 7 and 8: NEWS 7 17 Scottish Shorts on BBC Fi
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Page 19: education 19 The Auld Alliance in A

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