Benchmark Films is a film finance, production and sales company focused on the production of genre films for the international market.

The company also manages structured investment opportunities with limited downside risk but excellent upside potential, available for UK and non-UK investors. New Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) opportunity Benchmark Films 2 is now available.

Main Details
Director: Karl Golden
Script: Chris Coghill
Producers: Ian Brady, Stephen Salter & Robert Walak
Cast: Jack O'Connell (SKINS, HARRY BROWN, EDEN LAKE), Henry Lloyd-Hughes (THE INBETWEENERS, HARRY POTTER) and Emily Barclay (IN MY FATHER'S DEN, SUBURBAN MAYHEM)

Distribution: Momentum Pictures (UK & Ireland, 2 September 2011)

Festivals: Edinburgh International Film Festival (15-26 June)

Official UK Site: www.weekender-movie.co.uk



Synopsis: 1990. The rave scene has arrived from Ibiza and warehouse parties are exploding across the UK bringing phenomenal wealth to the organisers. In Manchester, best mates Matt and Dylan are in their early 20’s and long to be more than just punters. As the government moves to outlaw the scene, it’s now or never and they quickly rise through the ranks to join the promoting elite. They are taken on a wild journey from the exclusive VIP rooms of London clubs to the outrageous parties in Ibiza super-villas and the hedonism of Amsterdam. It’s everything they dreamed of and more. But as their success continues to grow, they attract a more dark and sinister world. Matt and Dylan start to drift apart as they are forced to question the dreams they set out to achieve and their once solid friendship.

Director: Adrian Vitoria
Script: Ian Brady & Adrian Vitoria
Novel "Outlaws": Kevin Sampson
Producers: Ian Brady & Stephen Salter
Executive Producer: Rafael Quintian
Production Company: Syndicate Films

Synopsis: Across the city organised gangs are fighting for control of the lucrative supply of narcotics but supremacy in this violent world is short-lived as younger, hungrier and more ruthless gangs move up. Against this brutal backdrop Ged Brennan, Moby, Ratter and their crew pursue a dying trade of old time heists but, with two decades of meticulously planned jobs behind him, Ged is now planning to turn his back on this life but not before planning one final heist. As usual, he won't give them any details until the morning of the job so, until then, they have to stay off the street and keep out of trouble. The problem is that Moby loves to go out and with just days to go before the heist, an incident in a lapdance bar nearly leads to a gang war. Ratter, meanwhile, has long since outgrown the needless danger of Ged's blags and is desperate to cut all links with the crew but, for now, he has his own sinister reasons for staying on board. As the make-or-break heist approaches, Ged needs to summon all his street nous and killer instinct just to survive and even then he needs friends in low places to ensure that the stains vanish without trace.

Distributors: The Crew is released through Momentum Pictures in the UK & Eire, and internationally by Image Entertainment (USA), Anchor Bay (Canada), Imagem Filmes (Latin America), All Interactive Distribution (Australia & New Zealand), Sandrew Metronome (Scandinavia & Iceland), Kinowelt (Germany), Paradiso Entertainment (Benelux), Odeon (Greece & Cyprus), Vertice 360 (Spain), LNK Audiovisuais (Portugal), CP Digital (CIS/Baltic States), Videovision (South Africa), Blue Sky Media (Eastern Europe), Aventi Distribution (France), Shapira Films (Israel), Horizon International (Turkey), Medusa Distribuzione (Italy) and AMG Entertainment (Japan).

Press Quotes: "Brutal & Disturbing, This Is An Absolute Must See" ***** ZOO
"A Gripping British Thriller. Don't Miss It!" **** LOADED
"Intense and Ultra-Violent" **** FHM
"A Brutal, Unsentimental Thriller" FILM4.COM
"An Intense Thriller" EMPIRE
"Ultra stylish, very sexy, very adult and violent thriller .... miss this one at your peril as it is an absolute cracker." THE PEOPLE
"The British heist movie is rarely known for its excellence, but The Crew breaks the mould of expectation....top notch tough guy filmmaking" CLASH MAGAZINE
"Will have you hooked" THE SUN
"Delivers the ultra-violent goods brilliantly...will have you reeling with the intensity of proceedings" BIZARRE MAGAZINE
"A Pulse-Pounding Thriller" DVD REVIEW

Soundtrack: A selection of tracks from The Crew, including The Jam, Ocean Colour Scene and Eddie Cochrane, can now be played direct from Spotify

Benchmark Films can arrange for investment opportunities in film production through a number of options which limit downside risk and enhance the potential upside returns, including investment under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs).

New Investment Opportunities
The EIS private share offer in Benchmark Films Limited has now closed. Benchmark Films 2 Limited, a new EIS/ SIPP investment opportunity with advance HM Revenue & Customs approval which will focus on the production of a supernatural/ action film, is now available. Investment professionals who wish to register to receive information on the EIS opportunity can contact us by email.

Tax Relief Summary
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) - offering qualifying investors tax relief on amounts invested up to £500,000 per tax year. Unlike other film based tax schemes each individual EIS company has advance approval from HM Revenue & Customs. The EIS company must operate within the EIS rules for at least three years, which fits into the time frame needed to produce and market a film and collect film revenues.

» Initial EIS Relief - 30% tax relief on amounts invested up to £500,000 per tax year. All or part of the amount invested can be carried back and applied against income in the previous tax year. An investment of £100,000 effectively costs £80,000 after the initial relief is claimed or set off against other income tax liabilities.

» Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Deferral - unlimited relief worth up to 28% of the investment on gains arising in the three years prior to or year following investment, so previous CGT liability can be reclaimed or deferred. Combined with the initial tax relief this reduces the actual cost of investment into an EIS by up to 58%, so a £100,000 investment costs just £42,000.

» Inheritance Tax Relief - 100% after holding the EIS shares for two years.

» Loss Relief - net of the initial tax relief taken, loss relief is available at the investors marginal higher tax rate, up to a maximum of 50% of the investment. In a worst case scenario the basic EIS mitigates risk by combining the initial tax relief and the loss relief to limit the downside to 35% of the amount invested.

» Tax Free Realisation - profits returned as capital are exempt from CGT, so can be grossed up at the higher tax rate for comparison to other investments.

If an EIS investment breaks even after three years, then allowing for the initial 30% tax relief the net return is over 12% per annum. Due to this return being tax free, it is the equivalent of a gross return of over 25% per annum at the higher tax rate. If the return on investment is 30% after corporation tax over three years, then the EIS relief results in an effective gross return of over 45% per annum.

Link to HMR&C EIS page

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) - following the changes to pensions introduced in April 2006, unquoted shares qualify as a permitted investment for acquisition through a SIPP. By acquiring production company shares through a SIPP the net cost of the investment to an applicant paying tax at the higher rate is effectively 60 pence for each £1 invested. Additionally any return paid as either dividends or a realisation of capital will be returned to the SIPP without deduction of tax. foundation films has linked up with a leading SIPP provider able to facilitate investment where no SIPP is held or an investor's SIPP limits investment options.

The information provided on this site does not constitute investment or taxation advice, and prospective investors should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on investments and tax who is able to take account of an individual's personal circumstances.

Contact Details

Benchmark Films
441 The Linen Hall
162-168 Regent Street
London W1B 5TE
T +44 20 7193 1546
F +44 70 9229 3061
E mail@benchmarkfilms.co.uk

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