WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Creative companies explore potential links with Malta

"Malta has amazing film locations which have been used in Hollywood films including Gladiator, so it was beneficial to be able to speak directly to the Film Commission about partner working"

Film, gaming and immersive tech businesses from Warwickshire and the West Midlands built links with leading organisations in Malta during a trade mission to the Mediterranean island.

Seventeen delegates from companies in the creative sector across the region visited like-minded businesses to discuss potential collaboration.

The five-day trip, organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority, gave 11 businesses from the authority’s Creative Scale Up (CSUP) support course and Creative Business Response & Recovery Programme an overview of the opportunities of engaging with businesses in Malta.

The visitors met representatives of economic development agency Malta Enterprise, the Malta Film Commission and Gaming Malta, while the Malta Film Commission gave the group the chance to visit a filming location for international fantasy hit TV series Game of Thrones.

Among those taking part was Louise Osbourne of film production company Emmeline Productions..

Louise said: “The trade mission to Malta was an amazing, well-structured event which gave us the opportunity to meet organisations and people we would not normally expect to engage with. Malta has amazing film locations which have been used in Hollywood films including Gladiator, so it was beneficial to be able to speak directly to the Film Commission about partner working.

“They recognise the opportunities from linking up with creative businesses from the West Midlands. In return, it opened us up to the chance to work with international partners from Malta.”

Businesses represented on the trip included Sponge Hammer Games from Leamington Spa and Meriden-based gaming company Immersive Hollywood.

The trip received funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, along with Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). It was also supported by the West Midlands Growth Company and Create Central. The businesses taking part paid their own travel costs.

Next year the West Midlands delegation will welcome a Maltese delegation  who will also have the chance to meet companies in the screen and gaming sectors.

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