The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, on the 9th of June, named the City of Bradford as the first City of Film, as part of the Organization’s Creative Cities Network.The world's first City of Film was announced by Unesco on the 9th of June, with the honour going unexpectedly to Bradford. Although Los Angeles, Cannes and Venice, to name a few, might have been considered odds-on favourites for this award, the Yorkshire city has got there first with a bid based on classics such as Room at the Top and the latest work of British Bollywood and history of successful film festivals and exhibitions.
Although it is better known for its textile heritage, Bradford nonetheless has a long tradition of film-making, built with the help of its striking landscape and local acting talent, including Billie Whitelaw and Tony Richardson. The successful bid has been powered by the National Media Museum, the most visited museum outside London, whose move to Bradford in 1983 was a turning-point in the city's regeneration. The prize from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is a 'badge of honour' rather than a source of direct funding, but Bradford's new status will encourage the city's current work to 'seed' new talent, working with the local university and commercial studios.
The area's latest star, Simon Beaufoy, whose screenwriting credits include one of 11 Oscars won by Slumdog Millionaire, yesterday called these plans "inspirational and a benefit to both the local community and the industry at large". Bradford joins two other British cities already designated within Unesco's Creative Cities Network. Edinburgh has won City of Literature status and Glasgow City of Music. The network is designed to encourage social and economic development through sharing cultural work.
