The director of a newly-created film centre has said she hopes it will have a “halo effect” on Brighton and Hove’s creative industries.

Céline Haddad was speaking following the announcement that she will take the reins as director of Creative England and BFI’s talent centre in Brighton.

The centre, which will provide assistance to new and emerging filmmakers, is just one of two being launched across the whole of the country. The project is set to move in to its base in Lighthouse in Kensington Street, Brighton, next month.

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A competition to find new filmmakers called iShorts will close to applicants in November with a course for the 20 projects chosen beginning in January.

The centre will also offer development, screenplay and production support, mentoring and training for more experience filmmakers.

Haddad has spent the last three years as head of development for animation at award-winning Passion Pictures having previously moved from Pathé where she worked on films by Danny Boyle, Stephen Frears and Roger Michell.

She said: “What’s really exciting is that for the first time, all the support emerging filmmakers are seeking will be tailored to their needs and under one roof. Brighton has a vibrant community in terms of media and we are looking to join up with other cultural bases in Brighton, theatres, art galleries, visual artists, and allow our filmmakers to engage with them.”

For more information visit www.creativeengland.co.uk/network.