The Cross Channel Film Lab today announced an investment of €1.5million (£1.2million) from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in a new €3million (£2.4million) project to further the interaction between screenwriting, visual effects (VFX) and Stereo 3D innovations in low to medium budget cinema in the UK and France. The project kicks off today with its first week-long UK workshop, at the recently opened Academy for Innovation and Research (AIR) at University College Falmouth.

Building on the success of a pilot scheme in 2010, the Cross Channel Film Lab: Phase 2 (CCFL2) brings together five partners in the south of the UK and six in the north of France to combine story with new VFX and 3D research in the development of exceptional low to medium budget film projects.

Practical CCFL2 labs on both sides of the Channel will place technicians and researchers with writer/director/producer teams, to explore new VFX and Stereo 3D technologies at an early stage of story development. The labs will support innovation in production processes and narrative form, stimulating a new generation of European independent cinema.

Creative England, Bournemouth University, University College Falmouth, Cornwall Council and Arts Centre Trust Cornwall will work with France’s Le Groupe Ouest, Artefacto, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Télécom Bretagne (3D Fovea), École Régionale des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, the Dinard Film Festival and industry partners to build a collaborative R&D model in 2012.

The scheme will develop eight feature film projects in 2013 and 2014. It will launch its call for submissions at the Dinard Film Festival in October 2012.