The first recipient of the fund is James Erskine’s football feature One Night In Turin.

James Erskine’s football feature One Night In Turin is the first recipient of the UK’s North East Creative Content Fund, which was launched in February this year.

The $3.5m (£2.4m) fund is the result of a partnership between regional screen agency Northern Film & Media and Newcastle based venture capital firm NorthStar Equity Investors, which will make 18 investments across film, TV, games, digital media and music over a 2 year period.

Newcastle based New Black Films, the production company behind One Night In Turin, has picked up $206,000 (£140,000) from the fund, to go towards the distribution of the film, which is based on the book All Played Out by Peter Davies, about the England football team’s quest for the Italia 90 World Cup. It will also help to develop New Black Films’ potential as a producer of quality films with commercial impact.

Marion Bernard, Chief Executive Officer, NorthStar Equity Investors said: ‘This Creative Content Fund was set up to help grow the North East creative sector by making viable commercial investments in a supportive and innovative way.  One Night in Turin is a fitting inaugural investment for the Fund with strong management, a great production and strong North East credentials.’