More money to bring movie-makers to Scotland
A record amount is being spent on filming in Scotland.
An additional £1.25 million will be provided to encourage film and TV production in Scotland, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has revealed.
The funding, sourced from the Scottish Government and the National Lottery and routed through Creative Scotland, takes the total sum allocated to the Production Growth Fund to £3 million since it was set up in September 2015.
The fund aims to provide an incentive for major film and TV producers to work in Scotland, employing Scottish talent, providing skills development, supporting local economies and growing the creative and tourism industries.
Through the funding, Creative Scotland is already supporting large-scale feature films such as T2: Trainspotting, Churchill and high-end TV dramas Loch Ness and In Plain Sight which are being produced in the country.
The news comes after a record £52.7 million was spent by film and television producers in Scotland in 2015 - a figure up from £45.8 million the previous year.
Ms Hyslop said: "Incentivising major film and TV productions to come to Scotland makes strong economic sense.
"Every major project filmed here boosts our local and wider creative economy, enhances our international reputation and can attract thousands of new visitors.
"Scotland's exceptionally talented screen sector has proven time and time again it has the skills to deliver world-class films, and our scenery has provided a breathtaking backdrop to many a Hollywood blockbuster."
Jane Archer, chief executive at Creative Scotland, added: "Today's announcement reflects our shared ambition to support the conditions necessary to enable Scotland's screen sector to grow and compete meaningfully at home and on the international stage.
"One of the key aims of the Production Growth Fund is to support Scottish producers as well as attract international production into Scotland.
"In its first year, demand for the fund has been extremely high and the projects supported so far not only further raise the profile of Scotland as an international destination for film-makers, but also support our world-class craft and technical talent."