Shooting on a new feature film, chronicling a dark tale of aristocratic family secrets, deception and cultish crimes, has just started thanks to a £150,000 investment from the Finance for Business – North East Creative Content Fund.

The new movie, January, is the latest production to receive backing from the fund, managed by venture capital company Northstar Ventures and held by regional screen agency Northern Film & Media. Tom Harvey, CEO of Northern Film & Media said: “Featuring an innovative script, talented cast and commercially-focused production team, January is an astute investment for the Creative Content Fund. The fund has established a fine portfolio of high impact film, TV and digital media investments with a strong North East base.”

The relationship between Northstar and NF&M was the first of its kind in the UK’;s regional creative industries sector and was hailed by the CBI as a shining example of using public money to de-risk investment. Northstar’;s chief executive Marion Bernard said: “As a film buff myself I take great satisfaction in seeing deals come together which help to strengthen the region’;s creative sector and I look forward to seeing the finished product achieve commercial success.”

January stars an all-British cast including James Cosmo, (Braveheart, Troy), Craig Conway, Amy Manson (Being Human, Outcasts), Nora Jane-Noon (Magdalene Sisters) and James Lance (Bronson). It is being directed by Danish film-maker Adam Levins. Producer William Borthwick said: “January is a dark family drama with a twist, best described as Gosford Park meets Misery! We have found a fantastic location in the North East, received essential investment from the Fund, and first class support from NF&M.”

The £2.4 million Creative Content Fund has recently invested in World Productions’; BBC2 drama United, digital content creation tool Masher and James Erskine’;s New Black Films – producers of documentary One Night in Turin. It is supported by the ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, which is bringing £300 million into the North East to boost innovation, enterprise and business support services.