North-East of England to Get New Studio Backed by Indie Film Company Turnover XXV (EXCLUSIVE)
The growth in studio space across the U.K. looks set to continue with the announcement of a new facility in the north-east of England.
Turnover Studios is the latest initiative of Turnover XXV, the production company founded by actor and producer Craig Conway, business strategist Amita Krishna, creative director and casting lead Ajo Kacmar, and international producer Djonny Che.
The studio will be located in the Teesside Freeport zone, and is expected to be first facility in the U.K. and Europe to be based inside a Freeport, a designated customs areas that offers various incentives and infrastructure support to promote business growth
The news comes just weeks after it emerged that another studio development in the region, the $620 million Crown Works Studios backed by Fulwell Entertainment — the company behind “The Late Late Show With James Corden” — had stalled after losing a major investor.
The new Teesside development is being supported by local entrepreneur Ammar Mirza, founder of ISS Airview, who now serves as chair Turnover XXV’s advisory board.
“Turnover XXV has always been more than just about making films,” said Conway, who serves as CEO. “It’s about shifting the power balance in storytelling and building long-term opportunity where it’s needed most. With the Teesside studio, we’re creating a launchpad not only for our slate, but for a new kind of filmmaking economy that delivers impact for the region.”
Added Kacmar: “For us, storytelling doesn’t stop at the screen. It’s just as much about the lives we shape on and behind the camera. This new studio gives us the space to nurture emerging voices, build meaningful careers, and welcome bold, international collaborations with long-term impact.’’
Turnover XXV, which has a slate of productions it hopes to shoot in the new facility when it opens next year, says the studio is part of its mission to boost the film industry in the north-east. It claims the facility forms part of a strategy to create a “self-sustaining film pipeline” that develops, produces and distributes up to five feature films annually.
The company recently shot its debut production “Trash TV,” starring Noah Taylor (“Game of Thrones,” “Peaky Blinders”) at the nearby University of Sunderland. Robert Cavanah (“Lockerbie: A Search For The Truth”), Millie Brady (“The Last Kingdom”), Fellner (“The Trip To Italy”) and Dave Johns (“I, Daniel Blake”) also star in the film, a dark satire that marks the directorial debut of Danny Lee.
Turnover’s financing and Southeast Asia partnerships are led by Chen, founder of Silent D Pictures, whose productions span more than 30 feature films across Europe and Asia, including his upcoming feature “High Wire” starring Isabella Wei and Dominic Lam.
“This is more than a studio launch,” said Ammar Mirza of the new announcement. “It’s a blueprint for inclusive economic growth, creative innovation and cultural leadership. What we’re building in Teesside has the potential to change how the world sees the North East – and how the North East sees itself.”
