Information Bulletin
A Viking Saga in Cannes 2007
Shetland will be showcased as part of a Highlands and Islands presence at the world's most prestigious film festival in the south of France next week. At the Cannes Film Festival 2007 representatives of the Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission (SHIFC) will encourage the film industry to consider using the area for future filming projects.
Shetland Islands Council is keen to attract any positive film-related business to Shetland, not only for the obvious immediate direct economic impact through use of accommodation, transport and other local services by film crews, but particularly for the longer-term valuable exposure the medium of film and TV can realise. This is now of great importance in the digital age where the advent of more available specialist channels world-wide mean that productions can have a particularly lengthy shelf-life. It is now common to see Shetland featured on network channels up to several years after the initial filming event.
Shetland is involved as a sponsor for the showcase which this year has a Norse theme being billed as “A Viking Saga in Cannes 2007”.
Neil Henderson, Principal Officer Marketing with Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Unit said “The promotion in Cannes gives Shetland direct access to around 200 industry professionals, many of which have an intention to film or an interest in filming in the Highlands and Islands, a wide range of agencies who support the industry and an extensive network of national and international business contacts”.
“The theme fits Shetland well and the event therefore provides an excellent opportunity to connect with the right people to gain film business for the area and to improve our profile as a filming location to a targeted audiences. As part of the promotion we will be featuring members of the Lerwick Jarl Squad, some of our award winning food and drink, much of which has been donated free of charge by local suppliers, along with music provided by Shetland’s Scottish Glenfiddich Fiddle champion Gemma Donald”.
“Shetland’s natural and cultural environment makes it a particularly attractive location for documentary filming and recently we have measured significant interest in Shetland from exposure last year through BBC’s ‘Springwatch’ and ‘Viking Fire’ documentaries. Later this year we are set to feature on the BBC’s ‘Coast’ and ‘Nature of Britain’ whilst ITV’s ‘The Woman Who Ate Scotland’ Shetland programme will screen in July - all in prime-time network television slots. The Council is also supportive of Fresh Paint Production’s venture in Unst which will see feature film ‘The Blackening’ being shot on location in the north isles, along with subsequent features, over the next 2 years”.