A Locarno Film Festival panel saw producers and media fund directors from the U.K. and Switzerland discuss co-production opportunities.
It’s been a challenging year-and-a-half for co-productions between Switzerland the U.K., but there appears to be cause for optimism. Directors of media funds from both countries, as well as a pair of producers, gathered at a Locarno Film Festival panel to discuss co-financing and co-production opportunities between the two countries, and to try and entice the room to share in that positive outlook. Neil Peplow, BFI director of industry and international affairs, was at the center of proceedings as he explained how the U.K. Global Screen Fund (UKGSF), launched earlier this year, has the potential to replace the financial support that was lost by the U.K. leaving Creative Europe’s MEDIA program due to Brexit. “We’re very much here, we’re very much present, and we very much appreciate the importance of co-production, especially with our European partners,” Peplow said. “Although we may have left the EU, we have not left Europe. Culturally, our stories are important to share.” However, during the Q&A segment of the panel, a producer in the audience shared his negative experience of making a film as a U.
