Basic Instinct 2 Star Launches New Film Venture

Basic Instinct 2 Star Launches New Film Venture

CANNES, France, May 16/PRNewswire/ --

- Brit actor David Morrissey brings filmmaking boost to Merseyside

British actor David Morrisey took time off from filming Basic Instinct 2 - Risk Addiction starring alongside Sharon Stone today to travel to Cannes and launch a new British film partnership for Merseyside.

Morrissey is partnering up Tubedale Films, co-run with his brother, Liverpool businessman Paul Morrissey, and producer Carl Clifton, with North West Vision, the Film and Television agency for England's Northwest which is investing GBP145,000 over the next twelve months into a slate of films to stimulate a step change in the development and production of features on Merseyside.

David Morrissey's recent roles in the BAFTA nominated TV series 'State of Play' and 'Blackpool' have served to underline his critical acclaim as one of the UK's brightest talents. He is also soon to be seen in Stoned, Stephen Woolley's film about Rolling Stone Brian Jones.

David Morrissey comments: "We're delighted to be teaming up with North West Vision in this initiative. With European City of Culture status on the way, the current and future opportunities for developing and producing films on Merseyside are really exciting. We're thrilled to be part of that."

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision adds: "Tubedale has an exceptional creative team and a very clear vision of how it can help shape a successful film production sector on Merseyside. Developing and attracting the newest and best talent is key but their internationalist approach is also refreshing and completely in tune with the way that Liverpool is positioning itself in preparation for 2008."

The deal is the first of its kind from a UK Regional Screen Agency and will see Tubedale bringing a substantial GBP225,000 of matching funding from a variety of sources to develop film projects that are market focussed and substantially intended for production in the region.

Tubedale previously co-produced Patrice Leconte's international hit film L'homme du Train and is currently co-producing a New York-set English language remake of Leconte's 1989 critical and commercial success Monsieur Hire.

Notes to editors

- North West Vision is the film and TV development agency for England's Northwest. It funds film and TV programmes, develops new talent and works to attract new production and inward investment into the region. www.northwestvision.co.uk

- The Merseyside Film & Television Fund (or 'MFTVF') is a major initiative from North West Vision and the European Regional Development Fund to support the growth of the screen agencies in Liverpool and Merseyside. As well as attracting the best talent and projects to the area, the fund is generating a professional infrastructure that can offer skills and services that are the equal of anything else in the UK. Investments of up to GBP250,000 are available for a whole range of activities including company development, production development and production financing. www.northwestvision.co.uk/mftvf.

- The investment by North West Vision is being made through its ERDF-sponsored Merseyside Film and Television Fund, which is intended to strengthen Liverpool's filmmaking activity in advance of its appointment as European Capital Of Culture in 2008. As well as development finance, the Fund also offers production financing and company development support for both indigenous and incoming production companies looking to co-produce in the region.

Source: UK Film Council

For further information on this announcement contact Geraldine Vesey, Angie Grant or Lorna Skingley at Spin Media on +44-(0)161-236-9909 or email: firstname@spinmedia.co.uk

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