Stirling Studio is one of 23 companies awarded International Business Development support.
Ping Creates, the Stirling-based studio behind the recently released (and award-nominated) Super Stretchy Chicken Legs, has secured funding from the British Film Institute’s UK Global Screen Fund.
Financed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the award is to boost Ping Creates’ international activities and enhance the success of their content globally.
The latest round of awards sees over £1.3 million being allocated through the fund’s International Co-production strand and over £2 million being allocated through the fund’s International Business Development strand.
The studio plans to use the funding to hire a Data Analyst and Marketing Manager to increase the company’s capacity for narrative game development.
Jason Wagner, the CEO of Ping, told the Scottish Games Network:
This is an absolute game changer for Ping Creates as the support will allow us to scale up the team, promote our games, collaborate with studios and develop international partnerships.
The funding, awarded in the form of non-recoupable grants and ranging between £50,000 and £150,000 in total over a three year period, is focused on helping companies achieve new international business partnerships, enhance their profile and reach in the global marketplace, and increase revenue generation through export and international expansion.
The UK Global Screen Fund allocates funding to three open access strands:
- International Distribution: support for sales and distribution of one or more UK feature films (drama, documentary, animation) in international territories
- International Business Development: financial support for business strategies that drive international growth and IP development for companies working in film, TV (animation, drama and documentary) and interactive narrative gaming
- International Co-production: support for UK companies to be partners in international productions, sharing IP and revenue on TV (animation and documentary) and film projects with audience potential.
The UK Global Screen Fund has a number of funding opportunities opening in 2024:
- Round One — Opening 7 February
- Round Two – Opening 30 September
International Business Development
- One Round — Opening 4 April
UK Global Screen Fund applications are currently open, and assessed on a rolling basis throughout the year, for:
- International Distribution Festival Launch Support
- International Distribution Film Sales Support
- International Distribution P&A Support
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
The UK’s film, TV and video game firms are global trailblazers and we are determined to maximise their potential to drive economic growth and showcase their creative excellence across the world. Thanks to our investment through the UK Global Screen Fund, independent films – like the BAFTA-nominated Scrapper – are getting the support they need to develop international partnerships, attract investment and reach new audiences on a global stage.
Denitsa Yordanova, BFI Head of the UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds, said:
This latest round of awards demonstrates the inspiring global ambitions of our unique independent screen sector, supporting companies across the UK to forge new international collaborations and implement exciting growth strategies. It is fantastic to also see such a strong slate of co-production projects, working with a diverse range of international territories, many for the first time. The UK Global Screen Fund is proud to back such a wide variety of ambitious plans for creating new content with international resonance and for developing business strategies to reach international audiences and I look forward to following these ambitious projects and companies as they reach their full potential in the global marketplace.”