You are currently using an unsupported web browser. For the best experience using the Talent Manager website please consider upgrading your browser.

The BBC has unveiled the 50 indies it is supporting through the second phase of its £1m Small Indie Fund, after steering the first wave of producers to 46 commissions.

Three-quarters of this year’s intake are based in the nations and regions, while half have diverse leadership. The cohort includes Northern Ireland’s Afro-Mic Productions, Manchester entertainment indie King of Sunshine and London-based Milk and Honey Productions.

Each of the sub-£10m indies will receive strategic investment, a BBC commissioning editor mentor and a development deal to help them grow.

The BBC doubled its planned investment for the 2020/2021 crop, supporting 96 companies, including Leeds drama indie Duck Soup Films, Bristol’s Uplands TV and Scottish factual producer Firecrest Films, with £2m to help alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many of those indies continue to be supported in this second year. Afro-Mic, for example, was supported by the factual commissioning team last year, leading to the commission of its 10 x 30-part series Made Up in Belfast, and is now working with entertainment commissioners.

Milk and Honey is set to follow up its 3 x 60-minute series Black Art Matters with a four-part series made by three new black directors, two of whom are making their first 60-minute BBC2 doc. The commission was secured by a development exec hired through support from the fund.

Other indies winning commissions have included Cardiff Productions, which made BBC2 shows Black Voices and Beauty and the Bleach, Derry-based Alleycats, which makes BBC3 series The Fast and the Farmer (ish) [main picture] and Fully Focused, the indie behind BBC3 comedy PRU.

This year's recipients of the Small Indies Fund:

Northern Ireland

Afro-Mic Productions

Alleycats

Fabel Productions

Walk on Air

 

Wales

Darlun

Frank Films

Kailash

Little Bird

Little Wander

Nimble Productions

 

Scotland

Flabbergast TV

Friel Kean

Highland Midgie

Koh Pro

Oxford Films (Scotland base)

Rogan Productions

Sinner

Two Rivers Media

Vincent TV

 

English Regions

Bohemia Film - SW

Button Down - Yorkshire

Clockwork Films - Leeds

Comedy Hothouse – North East

Cornered Tiger- Midlands

Daddy's SuperYacht  - North East/London

Factual Fiction - Yorkshire

Indefinite Films - Bristol

King of Sunshine - Manchester

Middle Child – North East base

Ossian/Enchanted Isle – Scotland/NE

Peggy Pictures - Manchester

Portopia - Midlands

Rockerdale Studios - North

Saffron Cherry - Manchester

Spark Media - Suffolk

Super Best Quality Video - Bristol

The Connected Set - Brighton

TwentySix03- North East base 


London

B Side

Chatham

Corona

Dramatic Encounters

Escape Plan

Fully Focussed

Milk and Honey

Nuwave Pictures

Summer Films

Other Productions

Parti Productions

Sarah Brocklehurst