Purpose

The GM Production Fund has been established to support eligible film, television and content production activity in Greater Manchester, helping to attract and retain high-value production activity, strengthen the local production ecosystem and deliver wider economic and cultural benefits.

Applications have been assessed against the published fund requirements, eligibility criteria and scoring methodology, including consideration of strategic fit, deliverability, value for money, subsidy control and the anticipated benefits for Greater Manchester.

The award(s) have been recommended by the Investment Panel and the GMCA Treasurer has been delegated authority to approve the final allocation of funds to individual programmes and projects, the appropriate ‘route to market’ and the award of contracts and/or grant funding to providers/recipients.. The award(s) will support delivery of the fund’s objectives, subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence and agreement of appropriate contractual terms, including reporting, evaluation, audit, publicity and recoupment provisions where applicable.

Decision

Approval is given to award funding from the Greater Manchester Production Fund to the below applicant(s) as recommended through the agreed assessment and decision-making process. A total of 7 applications / Total Allocation £3,030,135.00 has been approved for funding:
• The Family, Curve Media (App 4) — £370,075 — Recoupable investment — Recommended for approval
• The Repair Shop, Ricochet (App 3) — £400,000 — Recoupable investment — Recommended for approval
• The Grimoire, Zephyr Films (App 2) — £650,000 — Recoupable investment — Recommended for approval
• China: Hidden Land of the Dragon with Hazen Audel, A-OK Media House Ltd (App 16) — £210,060 — Grant — Recommended for approval
• Small Boat Charlie, Revolution Film (App 15) — £200,000 — Recoupable investment — Recommended for approval
• Making Noise, The Fold (App 10) — £450,000 — Grant — Recommended for approval
• Lonely Hearts, Quay Street (App 1) — £750,000 — Recoupable Investment — Recommended for approval

The decision will enable GMCA to proceed with issuing award documentation and entering into the required grant funding and recoupable investment agreements, subject to completion of due diligence, subsidy control checks, legal documentation and any other conditions required by GMCA. Please note, all awards are pending subsidy control checks and agreement to terms and conditions.

Alternative options considered

Alternative options considered included making no award or awarding funding at a different level. These options were rejected on the basis that they would not deliver the agreed objectives of the Production Fund, could delay the delivery of eligible production activity, or could reduce the anticipated benefits to Greater Manchester.