Video: Kidulthood star Jaime Winstone on why the film industry needs Birmingham

The spotlight has been shining brighter and brighter on Birmingham over the past few years, which has seen the city slowly begin to make its mark as one of the creative hubs in the UK.

Alongside new developments in music and art growing rapidly, Birmingham Film Market has offered Brummies an opportunity to cast themselves in the world of cinema.

The Grand Hotel on Colmore Row opened its doors for the Birmingham Film Market, to give aspiring filmmakers from Birmingham the chance to pitch their ideas to some of the leading representatives from the movie industry.

Jaime Winstone said: “So it’s been very exciting to be welcomed here as an ambassador for the Birmingham Film Market, and to be in this extremely exciting room of fresh talent - script developers, young, old. A mixed bag of talent.”

 ”I just think things need to be explored a bit more, and the UK is so much bigger than London, and it’s so important to explore that talent.”

“Birmingham - there is not a lot about it when it comes to creative hub. But being here, it’s a complete creative culture hub. It has so much to offer, in young filmmakers, young script developers, young producers.”

Simon Cox, independent filmmaker and creator of Invasion: Planet Earth said:

“The chance to pitch you feature film products in Birmingham to really serious film execs is really, really important. We just don’t get these opportunities enough. You don’t just ring up Apple TV and say ‘hey, it’s me, can I come and see you?’ so the fact they come to us is brilliant!”

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