Edinburgh—Aug 26, 2004
Media Invests Over €2.2 Million in Documentaries for European Docuzone's First Two Years
Docspace, in association with UK MEDIA TEAM, hosts EDZ’s UK Launch at Edinburgh International Film Festival
Docspace, European DocuZone’s UK partner, today announced that the European Union’s MEDIA Plus Programme has invested €2,270,349 for the first two years of EDZ's three year project. The entire project has a budget of over six million Euros. This is an initiative to boost the number of European documentaries on the big screen. By transforming over 200 specialist cinemas in nine countries to digital cinemas, EDZ will create Europe’s largest digital cinema network to distribute specialised films by satellite to new audiences.
Steve McIntyre, chief executive of Scottish Screen and the main investor in Docspace, commented, “Scotland is spearheading a new digital distribution capability for the UK and Europe. It is undeniable that we now have digital cinema technology at the right quality and cost -- EDZ has come at the right time. This could radically change economic reality for specialist film producers.” At the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Docspace will introduce EDZ partners from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain who will show clips of the films selected for the first pan-European digital film festival, to be held later in 2004. The event, chaired by Amy Hardie, one of the project’s founders, will also reveal more details about EDZ and include discussions about what makes a documentary work internationally and on the big screen.
"The ability to premiere a film to 200 screens in nine countries simultaneously used to be the reserve of Hollywood majors," said Amy Hardie, managing director of Docspace. "Through the EDZ network, this opportunity is now available to producers and distributors throughout Europe." 1-3pm, Saturday 28 August 2004, Filmhouse Cinema 2 Followed by a reception hosted by the UK MEDIA team at the Point Conference Centre Penthouse, Bread Street The EDZ launch will be followed by a networking reception, hosted by the UK MEDIA Team, comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all working together on this event.
"The UK MEDIA Team is delighted to be hosting this reception to mark the launch of European DocuZone at EIFF. It is wonderful to see this unique European network of digital cinemas brought to life," says Emma Valentine, Co-ordinator of MEDIA Antenna Scotland. MEDIA Plus, the third round of the MEDIA Programme, began in January 2001 and will run to December 2006, including one year’s extension to the original five years. It has a total budget of €513 million, with €453.6 million for development, distribution and promotion and €59.4 million earmarked for training.
