Film financing and distribution firm Intandem has joined up with Number 9 Films, Film Four and the Irish Film Board in a £1.8 million deal that will help develop up to twenty new movies.
The contract has been awarded by the UK Film Council as part of their Super-Slate Development Funding Award.
The council will provide the consortium with £300,000 per annum for the next three years, with the companies providing their own matchfunding. Intandem's contribution to the consortium will be up to £100,000 per annum.
Intandem, which floated on the AIM market in April, will take on the role of executive producer and international sales agent.
produce the films in conjunction with various other selected producers.
Film Four will acquire the UK television rights.
The consortium is already in negotiations for four projects. One of which is based on a best-selling book in the style of Bridget Jones's Diary.
Twenty-eight consortia applied to the UK Film Council for the award with only four, including Number 9, being offered the highest level of funding. Gary Smith, chairman of Intandem, said the funding was great news for the company and for Birmingham.
"We are delighted and honoured to be part of such an exciting and talented group of film makers. This is an important step in Intandem's strategy of securing international distribution rights in film projects at an early stage, which we expect to result in a valuable film catalogue.
"We also want the films we produce to be premiered in Birmingham, which will raise the profile of the city."
Intandem hopes to continue to expand its list of films and is working with firms in Los Angeles and Canada to create a portfolio of horror movies. The company is to hold the UK launch of Stoned - a biopic of Rolling Stone Brian Jones - in the autumn. Directed by Stephen Wooley from Number 9 Films, it was screened in Cannes in May.