Indielab registers class of 2018

Sixteen firms have been selected for Indielab’s 2018 programme

UK-based accelerator programme Indielab has revealed the 16 participants in its 2018 programme.

The business-growth initiative, launched in 2015 by producer Victoria Powell with backing from the Mayor of London, offers up-and-coming production companies a tailored consulting process designed by the sector for the sector.

This year’s selected participants include Big Mountain Productions, Bingo Productions, Brown Bob Productions, Bryncoed Productions, Bullion Productions, Folk Films, Gobstopper Television and Greenacre Films.

Hello Dolly, Middlechild Productions, Plug-in Media, Silverfish Films, Summer Films (formerly Locomotive Film), Swan Films, Synchronicity Films and Ten66 Television have also been selected.

The programme is designed to provide cross-industry support, with each indie receiving specialist training from 50-plus sector leaders. Then, if relevant, the participating companies are put forward to pitch to a network of industry investors.

The participants were selected via an application process in which Indielab works closely with UK commissioners to identify production companies that demonstrate creative excellence.

Indielab unveiled its 2017 class last May. Indies from past programmes including Antidote Productions, Midnight Oil Pictures and Awesome Media & Entertainment have closed investment deals.

Powell said: “During this year’s selection process, we intensified our focus on diversity in all its forms. We are of course incredibly grateful to our funders and sponsors for their help in achieving this.”

Indielab has been supported since its inception by the Mayor of London’s office and, as of this year, Film London, the UK capital’s screen industries agency.

To be eligible, applying indies must be founded and registered in the UK, with less than £5m (US$6.75m) revenue in non-scripted. In order to support the burgeoning scripted sector as well as non-scripted, the cap on turnover has now been lifted to £8m if the company can demonstrate some scripted production.

Participants must have had at least two broadcast credits within the last three years and must be 75% independently owned. Prodcos backed or owned by broadcasters do not qualify.

The programme runs from now to the end of May 2018.