Bristol’s status as a leading centre for film, TV and digital media will be strengthened next year when the UK’s premier gathering of producers and distributors takes place in the city.
The Creative Cities Convention, which is backed by key stakeholders including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5/Paramount, was set up in 2018 as a platform to unite individuals contributing to the rapidly expanding screen sector outside London.
The two-day 2014 event will take place on 23 and 24 April at Bristol Beacon and promises to be the largest yet.
It will have a primary focus on network TV production while also exploring how new AI (artificial intelligence) and creative technologies are impacting film, TV and digital production more than ever before.
Creative Cities Convention director Ruth Pitt said “We are thrilled to be in Bristol, where a globally recognised production sector is well established.
“There will be something for everyone attending the conference from across the country to gain from the cutting-edge work underway in the South West and we’ll be talking about international as well as home-grown opportunities.”
The conference will tackle topics that mirror the swiftly evolving landscape of the industry and the challenges that lie ahead.
There will be an emphasis on offering practical support and advice, with more opportunities than ever for delegates to engage directly with experts and service providers, as well as connecting with fellow creatives, international deal-making will be another theme.
In naming Bristol as the stage for next year’s event, Creative Cities Convention said the city and the wider South West was already known as a magnet for creativity and sustainability, with incredible work underway to position the region as a global leader in immersive media.
It mentioned the University of Bristol’s MyWorld, the global centre for creative technology innovation that is exploring the future of creative tech by pioneering new ideas, products and processes.
It also namechecked Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios as a beacon of sustainability for the industry. The studio complex, where TV productions as diverse as The Outlaws and Wolf Hall have been filmed, expanded last year and now boasts 11 stages and 154,000 sq ft of film and TV production space across two sites.
Its new £12m premium facility TBY2 is powered by a 1MWp community-owned solar rooftop array believed to be the largest of its kind in the UK and the biggest PV installation on any UK studio.
Bristol was named a UNESCO Creative City of Film in 2017 and has been a UNESCO Learning City since 2016.
It is also home to the largest independent film and TV production sector outside London with a long-established reputation as a global leader in natural history and animation with industry giants such as the BBC’s Natural History Unit and Aardman Animations.
As a result, delegates at next year’s conference will be able to gain insights into developments in creative technology and what they mean for their businesses in the real world.
The convention will also offer much-needed support and encouragement for struggling independent producers and freelancers, especially in light of financial constraints and limited commissions.
For more information on the Creative Cities Convention visit https://creativecitiesconvention.com
