Screen East has also been involved in plans for Cinema City

The report by Demos, an independent research group, found that in 2004/2005 �382,000 of external investment was brought in by the quango.

It also helped eight businesses to get going and involved more than 10,000 people in education events.

Screen East also invested in 49 scripts and 1,341 total film screenings.

Laurie Hayward, chief executive of Screen East, said: "Screen East plays a pivotal, but sometimes unrecognised role in helping to nurture and develop a thriving and dynamic market for film and moving image in the east of England.

"We work across new media, games, television as well as film and are involved in production, training, locations, business development, education, festivals and cinema."

Screen East aims to help the film industry and training in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.