The North East film industry gets a major boost on Thursday.

More than �1.5m is being invested in the region's film-making talent by a new organisation.

Northern Film and Media (NFM) says London film-makers lack ideas and there are opportunities for the region to develop new projects.

The North East has already seen success with the Harry Potter films and the award-winning Billy Elliot.

Billy Elliot: A North East success story

NFM Chief Executive Tom Harvey says the impetus for film-making has swung away from London.

He said: "There's now an inertia in London when it comes to developing new ideas.

"There are just too many ideas and companies competing for the same space.

"There is an optimism and bravery in the North East that London has lost.

"Everyone here wants to see success for themselves and the region, that gives this place an energy that's immensely powerful and creative."

American studios

NFM, which is supported by lottery cash through the Film Council aims to invest in film and television production companies, computer games producers, and internet projects

British films are created by relatively small production studios, which do not have the resources to distribute and market their work.

To secure distribution in cinemas in Britain and abroad, they have to convince distribution companies - of which the biggest are all controlled by US studios - that their films are worth showing.

But even when they succeed and the films make money, a lot of the profit goes to the distributors, with no guarantee that it will be reinvested in British film.