Flashing Lights Media, the deaf-led indie behind CBeebies' Magic Hands, Belfast’s Afro-Mic Productions, and I Am Ruth producer Me+You Productions are among 57 companies chosen for this year’s BBC Small Indie Fund.
This year’s cohort includes a record 44 companies – 77% of the total – in which at least two individuals in specific leadership roles are BAME, disabled and/or from a working class background. Two-thirds of the producers are from outside London.
Each of the indies has a turnover of less than £10m and their output spans drama, entertainment, comedy, factual, daytime, children’s and, for the first time, film.
They will all receive strategic investment – around £1.5m in total - and will be mentored by a BBC commissioning editor to accelerate their growth and reach new audiences.
The BBC said that in the coming weeks it would detail a series of further insight sessions to support future pitches from small indies that had applied but missed the cut
BBC Film head of production Emma Kayee said: “The sheer number of strong applications we received is testament both to the outstanding talent in our independent film sector and the unprecedented challenges so many producers are currently facing. We’re excited to be working with these ambitious, forward-thinking companies and we can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Companies selected for the 2024 Small Indie Fund:
Northern Ireland
- Afro-Mic Productions
- Big Mountain Productions
- Fabel Productions
- HopSkip Studios Ltd
- Out of Orbit
Wales
- Afanti Media Ltd
- Cardiff Productions
- Cwmni Da
- ie ie productions
- Kailash Films
- Red Seam
Scotland
- Barry Crerar Ltd
- Beezr Studios
- Flabbergast
- Furnace Ltd
- North Bridge Media
- Pure Leo Ltd
- Unified Theory Productions Limited
English Regions
- Candle & Bell Limited - North East
- MCC Media Ltd – North East
- Schnoobert Productions Limited – North East
- Wander Films Limited – North East
Candour Productions Ltd – Yorkshire & The Humber
ClockWork Films - Yorkshire & The Humber - Public Dreams Ltd – Yorkshire & The Humber /London
- Boudica Entertainment Ltd – North West
- EMU Pictures Limited – North West /London
- The Fold– North West
- Northern Heart Films – North West
- FirstLookTV – West Midlands
- Full Fat Television – West Midlands
- Rural Studios – West Midlands
- Walking House Limited – West Midlands
- Chalk Productions – South East
- Flashing Lights Media – South East
- Ten66 Television Limited – South East
- Caravan East – East
- The Connected Set – South West
London
- 104 Films
- Acme TV Ltd
- Big Little Fish Television Ltd
- B-Side Production
- Gingerbread Pictures Ltd
- Greenacre Films
- Me+You Productions
- Moonspun Films Ltd
- Nico Productions Ltd
- Parti Productions
- Quiddity Films
- Rebel Park Productions
- Rockerdale Studios
- So & So Productions
- Sungazer Ltd
- The Corner Shop Productions
- Turnover Films
- Vibrant Television Ltd
- Wild Swim Films
