Over the summer MEDIA Desk UK has had the time to calculate the sum of MEDIA Programme funding received in the UK in 2008. In total, the MEDIA Programme awarded almost €8 million to UK companies, and a further €6 million was awarded to support the European distribution of UK films. Overall 149 UK-based companies were supported by the whole range of MEDIA Programme schemes, and the funding went to production companies, professional training providers, film schools, sales agents, VoD operators, cinemas, interactive media companies, and organisers of festivals and promotional events.
 
MEDIA Slate Development Funding awards were made to eight UK companies including Revolution Films, the Recorded Picture Company and MentornMedia. 26 UK companies were awarded funds to develop a variety of individual projects such as Diverse Production's documentary Mrs Mandela, and Acamar Films' animation series, Bing Bunny.
 
In 2008 nearly 40 UK films received funding from MEDIA's Distribution support schemes, including Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, which received over €800,000 for distribution across Europe. Ken Loach's Looking for Eric and Joe Wright's Atonement also received significant support.

Other UK beneficiaries of MEDIA funding in 2008 include MercuryMedia, which received €200,000 from MEDIA for their VoD service joiningthedocs.tv. Three UK film schools received nearly €400,000 of MEDIA funds to support training initiatives involving collaboration with European partners. In addition, 45 UK cinemas received MEDIA subsidy to help support their European screenings via the Europa Cinemas network. 
 
As usual, MEDIA funding played a large part in helping UK distributors release European films in the UK.  Supported releases in 2008 included Artificial Eye's Waltz with Bashir (directed by Ari Folman) and Optimum Releasing's Gomorrah (directed by Matteo Garone). To date, European films with MEDIA support for their UK releases in 2008 have racked up a staggering £3,179,261 in UK box office revenue.

Further details of UK MEDIA funding beneficiaries in 2008 will be available to view and download soon.