Announcing our 2021/22 Creative Enterprise Evolve Cohort

We are delighted to announce our 2021/22 Evolve Investment Readiness cohort! This year we have a mixture of innovative screen-based businesses from around the UK. The cohort will take part in a mixture of 121 mentoring and group sessions that will support them on their investment journey.  

Developed with National Lottery funding from the BFI, Creative Enterprise Evolve is a unique nine-month long programme designed by investors that prepares high-potential screen businesses for growth capital.  

Watch this space for a spotlight on each company. In the meantime, we have created a snapshot of the businesses below.  

FedUP Studio Lab: 

FedUP Studio Lab is a new ethical animation studio that includes video production & design services. Their  objective  is to help brands, companies, and clients to become different and more ethical in a more efficient way.  To improve this, they are developing innovative remote workflows, helping clients to understand the animation process and the benefits of a more ethical approach, experimenting within the Lab section of the Studio to be more creative and sharing educational and inspirational content. https://fedupstudiolab.co.uk/  

Red Star Entertainment Ltd.

Red Star is an animation studio based in Sheffield, UK creating 3D films for visitor attractions such as theme parks and museums, as well as kids and family feature films for global audiences. Founded by Ben Smith and Jan Rogowski, the studio’s first film STARDOG AND TURBOCAT was released in 2019 and they’re currently in production on Terry Pratchett movie THE AMAZING MAURICE. www.redstar3D.com 

Laal Blue Dot Ltd. 

Laal Blue Dot Ltd is an independent feature film and HETV production company, with an emphasis on modestly budgeted, high-value, saleable productions. Their aim is to produce significant, thought-provoking, profitable stories that educate, enlighten and entertain. Their debut feature BETWEEN THE LIGHTS (a romance with a supernatural twist set over three Christmases) will be filmed in the ancient and picturesque city of York and the beautiful scenery of the Lake District. www.laalbluedot.com 

Cardboard Sword 

Cardboard Sword is an independent game development company focusing entirely on own-IP creation. Running for over eight years, and with a AAA experienced team, they have two games in development and a number of proprietary tools. They hope to find success with their first title, The Siege and the Sandfox, followed by relaxed driving sim, Transmission. https://cardboardsword.co.uk/ 

Busy Doctor Films 

Busy Doctor Films (BDF) was established ostensibly as a film production company but has grown into a multimedia company with an eclectic portfolio, reflecting founder Nidhi Gupta’s unique skill set combining filmmaking, visual creativity, marketing nous and biomedical expertise.  BDF has produced nearly 50-hours of online medical education content; has two documentaries and one narrative feature film in-production, and has worked with a number of major organisations including Kings College London, Cambridge University Health Partners and Clinical Skills Pro.  www.busydoctorsfilms.com 

Spilt Milk Studios

Spilt Milk Studios is an independent game developer. Founded in 2010, they‘ve released 9 games commercially – 8 of them original IP – as well as countless jam games, festival installations, charity efforts, prototypes and a significant amount of work for hire with some of the industry’s biggest companies. They have built their company around Community, Diversity and Curiosity and makegames focused on Multiplayer, World-Building, and Adventure. https://www.spiltmilkstudios.com/games  

Huey Games Ltd.

Huey Games is a video game developer founded by industry veterans specialising in Smart Console Porting, powered by HueyCore. They also develop award-winning original games, and license titles for their unique Collectors USB Cassette physical games collection. www.hueygames.com 

Altered Gene

Altered Gene is a remote development studio headquartered in the UK, with a mission to craft omni-channel games and experiences using the core pillars of story, quality and accessibility. The team is currently working on building a story-verse spanning five individual projects. www.alteredgene.co.uk 

Mooncolony Limited

Founded in 2016, Mooncolony is a boutique concept art studio based in Cambridge, UK. They create award-winning characters, illustrations and world-class artwork for partners around the world. Designing by heart, their seasoned artists give life to stories by creating transcending characters. To deliver the best work, they work with top international talent and the best emerging artists under one roof. www.mooncolony.co 

Nosebleed Interactive Ltd.

Nosebleed Interactive is a multi-award-winning game development studio, named as one of the Top 50 creative companies in the country.  They have worked with some of the world’s biggest content providers such as Sony Interactive Entertainment and with brands such as Star Trek. They have won several awards including best small to medium business in the Newcastle Business Awards. Alongside this they were among the first companies to receive support from the prestigious UK Games Fund. www.nosebleedinteractive.com 

Peggy Pictures

Peggy Pictures is a female-led production company with a passion to create content that makes the world a more understanding and tolerant place, and an expertise in the under 30’s audience.  Peggy Pictures produces TV programmes, short form content and podcasts that aim to inspire, educate and bring as much joy as possible into the audience’s lives. Diversity and inclusiveness on and off screen are at the company’s core, thriving on working with brilliant people who all bring something different to the party. www.peggypictures.com 

Dark Rift 

Dark Rift Horror (formerly Dark Rift Films) was founded in 2016 by Paul Butler & Stewart Sparke and has seen commercial success with horror feature films THE CREATURE BELOW (2016) and BOOK OF MONSTERS (2019). Both films premiered at Frightfest London and secured worldwide distribution deals, making them available on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming services in over ten territories. www.darkriftfilms.com