It not very often you get the opportunity to work on a project that not only changes your own life, but to some extent the lives of everybody in your city; this film was that project.
In 2013 Hull was bidding to become UK City of Culture, 2017. If successful it would raise the profile of the city nationally and internationally, attracting investment and kick-starting wider regeneration projects.
The bid team, led by Andrew Dixon, posted an open brief for film companies to submit a proposal for a film that would distill the spirit of the city, get everyone behind the bid and ultimately win City of Culture for Hull.
Nova’s proposal – This City Belongs to Everyone – got us the job.
With poetry from Philip Larkin, beautiful narration from our own Hull legend Sir Tom Courtenay, a cast of 100s of Hull people, music by Steve Cobby, the film stirred the city’s heart and went viral overnight.
Seeing our film played on the BBC News at 10, in front of 1000s every week at the KCOM stadium, on loop on screens in schools and colleges across the city and watching the views and plays clock up by the minute was a truly moving experience.
Hull was up against three other cities – Dundee, Swansea and Leicester – but in our hearts, we felt City of Culture 2017 was ours.
On November 20, 2013 Hull won the bid – and we’ve been the busiest film company in town ever since.
