Four Bristol-based film companies have received financial support from Channel Four through its fund supporting independent production companies outside London in a significant boost to the city’s reputation as a vibrant and diverse creative centre.
The fund, which was launched in October, provides financial assistance for projects underpinned by a commitment to commission the end product. 
The fund attracted nearly 150 applications, with Channel 4 saying the quality was so high that it has made an extra five discretionary awards in addition to the 11 given to production companies which will form the fund.
Bristol, which is home to one of Channel 4’s creative hubs, had four of the 16 recipients – more than any other city.
Indefinite Films and Drummer TV have received money through the Emerging Indie Fund while Blak Wave Productions and Proper Job received discretionary awards.
Channel 4 head of commissioning management Emma Hardy said: “It’s fantastic that such a wide range of indies from across the UK will benefit from our Emerging Indie Fund.
“The fund will provide practical guidance and support so these indies can grow into the next stage of their development and, in turn, boost the creative impact the nations and regions has on the broadcast industry. It is the element of both time with commissioning and financial support that we feel will make the biggest difference.” 
Indefinite Films, headed by award-winning director-producer team Bruce Goodison and Kate Cook, focuses on creating thought-provoking stories for film, television and streamers which take extraordinary stories from the real world and seeks to make them compelling for their chosen audience.
The company’s first title was 2014’s powerful and provocative coming-of-age feature Leave to Remain starring Toby Jones, about the lives of a group of refugee teenagers seeking asylum in the UK. Marking the debut feature film for theatrical release for both Goodison and Cook, it premiered at the 2013 BFI London Film Festival and went on to receive widespread acclaim and seven international awards.
Goodison and Cook went on to partner on Channel 4’s critically acclaimed 2019 drama The Cure starring Siân Brooke and Sue Johnston, the inspirational true story of Julie Bailey, an ordinary woman from Stafford who blew the whistle on one of the worst scandals in the history of the NHS.
More recently they partnered on Channel 4’s three-part docudrama Murder in the Carpark (2020) which, four years in the making, examined the axe murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan in 1987, the most investigated unsolved murder in the history of the Metropolitan Police.
Channel 4 head of drama Caroline Hollick said: “We were really impressed by Indefinite’s bold approach to finding ambitious ideas for drama. This feels like a good time to support the company as they focus on developing some really original ideas that have heaps of potential for Channel 4.
“They’ve also been very proactive in creating a network for talent in the South West, something that is in line with Channel 4’s ambition to see more from the nations and regions in out content. We look forward to working with them on their drama developments and also in finding talent.”
Bruce Goodison, pictured above, added: “It’s a real boost for Indefinite Films to be named as one of Channel 4’s Emerging Indies Fund recipients. Kate and I are naturally drawn to tackling challenging subject matter where our central characters face choices that are authentic but handled in a way that’s really eye catching and different.
“We won’t shy away from morally challenging stories from diverse communities. We want to take creative risks with new voices to find the most engaging way to tell true stories. So what a treat to work with some of the brightest heads in TV at Channel 4 who are renowned for championing unheard voices and taking risks.”
Kate Cook, pictured above, said: “Having shot our last two projects in Bristol together, we’re excited to have Channel 4’s backing to take Indefinite Films to the next level with a view to producing more narrative content out of Bristol.
“There is a strong creative talent pool in the city that is growing all the time, so we’ll be looking to collaborate with that regional talent, as well as looking further afield and overseas. We look forward to taking our slate forward with the support of Channel 4’s Drama department.”
Multi-award and BAFTA-winning production company Drummer TV was established in 2012 by Tamsin Summers and Rachel Drummond-Hay. It describes itself as passionate about making character-driven documentary, drama and entertainment programming with compelling stories at their heart.
It is known for accessing people living on the periphery and looking for universal themes that all viewers can identify and has made programmes for BBC1, BBC3, Channel 4, Channel 5 and CBBC, and want to build a portfolio with all broadcasters here in the UK and internationally.
It also prides itself on being one of the most diverse independent TV production teams in the UK. It is female owned and 65% of its core team are women, 35% are BAME and 15% are Deaf or disabled.
Among its recent productions was The Plinth, pictured, made for Channel 4 News, which followed artist Marc Quinn as he secretly created a sculpture of protester Jen Reid, whose photo making the black power salute on top of the empty plinth of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol city centre had gone viral. 
In a follow-up film, Jen travelled around England meeting critics of the Black Lives Matter movement and talked to a member of the American far-right group the Proud Boys.
Blak Wave was launched last year by filmmaker Michael Jenkins and equality and diversity campaigner Dr Mena Fombo, pictured, as Bristol’s first black-owned TV production company with a mission to create content from a fresh perspective.
It has made films for Channel 4, the BFI and BBC, including The Shadow of Slavery, in which the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees – Europe’s first black mayor – and protestors from the city discuss the impact of the toppling of Colston’s statue.
