UFO film gets cash boost

A FILM about the mysterious sighting of UFOs at an East Anglian air base is a step closer to being made after a funding body pledged to support it.

Despite not reaching the finals of the Landmark East competition, the feature film has been given a strong thumbs up from the East of England Development Agency.

Joanna Carrick, who is creative director of the Ipswich-based film and theatre company Red Rose Chain, said she was looking forward to developing the project with the help of the agency.

She said: "Although they were really into our project they didn't think it was right for the landmark competition. It was not that they thought it was any less good than those ones that were chosen.

"Our work is about social inclusion and involving the community and I think they were really interested in that aspect.

"We are really glad that we entered the competition in our maverick and different way. I think they found it impossible to pull it in with the other projects, which were mainly architectural."

The project first came into fruition four years ago when the company performed their newly written play in Rendlesham Forest, which was inspired by the UFO sightings at RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge.

The base was being used by the American air force in 1980 when personnel claim they witnessed some unusual lights on two nights after Christmas. The case has excited worldwide interest since.

However Ms Carrick, who will be directing Eastgate next year, said it would be more than East Anglia's answer to X-Files.

The company would need a "substantial amount" to support the ambitious project.

But she admitted it would find a way to make the film whatever funding it receives.

The East of England Development Agency has also expressed an interest in Red Rose Chain's annual Rendlesham Forest production, raising the possibility of developing it into a drama festival.