FILM-making in the North has been given a boost with the appointment a distinguished producer.

Hugo Heppell has been appointed head of production for the regional screen agency, Screen Yorkshire.

He will be backed by a fund of about £2m for activities over three years, from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the UK Film Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr Heppell will be responsible for finding and fostering new regional film-making talent and quality projects for film and broadcast.

He will also be encouraging more feature film makers to shoot in the region, using industry professionals in the area.

"I am really excited at the opportunities for film and TV production in Yorkshire," said Mr Heppell.

"We have a combination of great talent and wonderful locations and I know we can build on successes such as Calendar Girls, Fat Friends and Little Voice.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for us to develop new projects with a truly distinctive voice and character."

Born in York, Mr Heppell has most recently been working as an independent producer and screenwriting tutor.

His experience includes two years at Open City, an independent company in the US where he was instrumental in establishing Blow Up Pictures, one of the world's first digital production houses.