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Highland Partnerships Proved Powerful at Cannes Film Festival

5th June 2006

A joint effort in promoting the Highlands and Islands at the recent Cannes Film Festival proved a very productive investment for local businesses according to Trish Shorthouse of the Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission.

Through a multi-agency approach, a Highland-base was established at Villa Belle - poque in the centre of Cannes from where the Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission, with support from Scottish Screen, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, and Movie Site, promoted Highland and Islands film-friendly products to movers and shakers of the movie industry.

A welcoming reception on the 22nd May attracted 200 guests to a Highland function, themed on "Whisky Galore" and the finest seafood in north of Scotland.

Trish Shorthouse, said: "We pulled off the best Highland event in 12 years in Cannes thanks to all the business support. A special thanks goes to Argyll Catering, film specialist caterers for the seafood prepared for the reception and all the companies involved plus agency support, including VisitScotland, HIE and Scottish Screen which resulted in true public/private partnership."

"Throughout the week we received around 60 top film companies at the villa and provided them with information on filming in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. We were focusing on promoting our Highland culture and not just resting on the laurels of our magnificent scenery. To compete on an international level we must promote our film friendly product base and the whole back-up package that we can provide to film producers and their companies when the come to Scotland.

"There is a lot more work that can be done to support our indigenous companies that provide the production base for the film industry. We have built up on this over the last 10 to 12 years and it is now paying dividends with major film productions like the first Gaelic feature film ~Seachd ~ The Innaccessible Pinnacle~ currently filming on thee Isle of Skye; and an animated feature being filmed and based on Loch Ness."

Businesses in the Highlands and Islands who would like to find out more about how they can become film friendly should contact Trish Shorthouse at the Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission on 01463 710 221