Call for action to breathe new life into Peterborough Film Office to put city on big screen

Now Peterborough City Council chiefs are writing a new script for the year-old Peterborough Film Office in a bid to show local, national and international film makers why the city could be a big hit for them.

The Film Office, based at the Peterborough City Council offices, has already paved the way for the city to host five drama/real life documentaries, which have brought in around £1,500 for the local authority.

And talks are currently under way with a Peterborough-based filmmaker for a potential production in the early stages of next year.

The Film Office has also enabled the city to host Adventures in Time and Space at Peterborough Museum, the unofficial Dr Who exhibition, which sold more than 15,000 tickets and helped secure a £168,000 government grant for the museum.

However, hopes that the Lido would be used as a scene in Apple TV’s Slow Horses - starring Oscar winning actor Gary Oldman – have now been dashed.

A council spokesperson said: “We believe that the production company has moved on and it is unlikely that the production will take place here.

"We will continue to pursue other opportunities.”

But council chiefs say more resources will have to be put into the Film Office, which was established to tap into the potential of the city, if it is to be a major success.

The council says it plans to use the Peterborough Tourist Board to provide more support for the Film Office, which will also be integrated into Peterborough’s City of Culture 2029 bid.

Councillor Zameer Ali , the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health, said: “The Film Office opened less than a year ago with no additional cost to the city, but has established regular networking events and dialogue with Creative England and other bodies who can see the clear potential of Peterborough.

“The next stage will be to further integrate the office into the City of Culture 2029 bid which has been launched this week, and continue to establish ourselves as a strong location for filmmakers, artists, and other creatives.”

Hopes for ‘Don’t Mention The War’ film set in Peterborough:

The council is negotiating with a Peterborough-based filmmaker for a potential production based on the city for early next year.

The feature film is called Don’t Mention The War and is gearing up to shoot in the city.

It is an Anglo-German romcom that centres on a family living and working in Peterborough and will showcase a number of the city’s social hotspots, tourist sites and businesses.

The script was selected for the prestigious Wscripted Screenplay List at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, and a producing team are currently building a cast of A-list actors and raising finance to bring the story to life.

Lizzie Worsdell, producer with Eldub Films, said: “This is the kind of project that offers wonderful sponsorship possibilities for Peterborough businesses who want to generate opportunities for local creatives and show off the city as a vibrant place to live,” says .

“If you’ve ever had dreams of being a film financier and walking that red carpet with the stars, this could be your chance!”

Writer and director Julie Mayhew, who was born and raised in the city and attended Ken Stimpson school and Peterborough Regional College, has written for books, theatre and TV and frequently features Peterborough in her work.

She wrote The Fletton Railway Children for Eastern Angles which opened The Undercroft theatre space at Serpentine Green, and wrote short story The Last Place, set in the cathedral, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.