THE agency tasked with bringing blockbuster movies to the region is hoping to get a greater slice of the industry cake.

Northern Film and Media (NFM) has set out plans for how to put the North-East more on the media map.

Nationally, the film and media industry is worth £14.3bn. The value of the sector in the North-East is £165m, only 1.2 per cent of the national market.

NFM, set up with support from One NorthEast and the UK Film Council, said that by taking two per cent of the national market, the region's media sector would enjoy an annual turnover of £286m.

Thanks to inward investment and talent-spotting by the agency, the North-East region is already starting to witness that happen.

Tom Harvey, NFM's chief executive, wants to harness the same regional drive and enthusiasm which built traditional industries such as shipbuilding, steel and coal in their heyday.

He said: "Culture is at the forefront of people's minds at the moment, and the North-East is very much on the global map.

"We need to capitalise on that and prove to the world what an exciting place the North-East can be for gifted writers, creators and film and programme makers."

Since its launch in October, NFM, which has pockets of investment from the Tees to the Tweed, is reporting that it is having a positive impact on the creative media industry in the region.