Manchester Inward Investment Film
Place Marketing Video Production

Client: MIDAS and Marketing Manchester

Project Title: Growth City — Greater Manchester Inward Investment Film

The Outcome

A dynamic inward investment film designed to launch the Greater Manchester stand at MIPIM, successfully promoting the region’s five key investment zones to global investors.

Client Brief

The Challenge

As global competition for capital intensifies, cities must present a compelling narrative to attract international investment—which drives job creation, wealth, and long-term economic development.

MIDAS and Marketing Manchester commissioned Paper Films to produce a flagship inward investment film to launch their presence at MIPIM 2026.

The commercial objective was to promote five key investment zones while accurately representing all ten Greater Manchester boroughs to a high-level global audience.

The Constraints

To deliver this critical place-marketing asset, we had to navigate several operational hurdles:

Narrative Complexity: We needed to balance the overarching city-region story with specific industrial sectors—from advanced manufacturing to creative industries—without diluting the core message.
Scale of Production: The project required filming across a vast geographic footprint, covering highly secure and active industrial locations.
Asset Longevity: The final film had to make an immediate impact at MIPIM while remaining a highly relevant tool for future international trade missions and DTI events.

Key Project Stats

Location

10 Greater Manchester Boroughs

Timeline

Delivered for MIPIM 2026 Premiere

Deliverables

1 Hero Inward Investment Film. Global presentation edits, zone animations

Target Audience

Global Investors, Developers & Policymakers

The Strategy & Approach

To meet the brief, we knew a standard promotional video would not suffice. We developed a strategy that transformed a traditional inward investment video into a dynamic, business-led storytelling film. Working closely with MIDAS and Marketing Manchester, we mapped out the industries, people, and institutions driving regional growth, ensuring every frame served the commercial objective of securing international capital.

Dynamic Storytelling

We bypassed traditional corporate formats to build a fast-paced, dynamic business narrative. By focusing on the people, industries, and institutions driving growth, we crafted a story that captured the region’s true ambition.

Sector Integration

Working closely with MIDAS, we identified and highlighted key economic strengths—spanning robotics, advanced manufacturing, and transport infrastructure—ensuring the film aligned with international investor priorities.

Motion Graphics

To clearly communicate complex regional planning, we integrated bespoke, stylised animation sequences. These graphics seamlessly revealed the five key investment zones without disrupting the cinematic live-action momentum.

Production Logistics

The production required capturing the sheer scale and diversity of Greater Manchester across all ten boroughs. To achieve this, we managed a vast and highly complex location matrix that included the University of Salford Robotics Labs, Manchester Metropolitan University Fashion and Textiles, The Henry Royce Institute at The University of Manchester, Bury Black Pudding Manufacturing Plant, Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls Factory in Wigan, MediaCity production studios in Salford, Stockport Transport Interchange, Manchester Airport, The Sharp Project media hub, Aira Heat Pumps manufacturing facility, John Rylands Library, Manchester Museum, Bolton Museum, Robinsons Brewery and the Manchester Graphene Institute.

Operating agile, cinema-grade crews, we captured dynamic aerials of the city centre alongside intimate portraits of advanced engineering and heritage brands. This meticulous logistical execution ensured we delivered broadcast-quality visuals safely and efficiently, navigating live transport interchanges, secure research facilities, and public spaces without operational disruption.

The Campaign Suite

Broadcast-standard assets delivered for global event deployment.

Premiere: Opening film for Manchester’s presence at MIPIM

Audience: Global Investors | Developers | Policymakers

Conference Launch Film

A short dynamic hero edit specifically engineered to open Manchester’s events programme at MIPIM in Cannes, capturing the ambition of the city region for a live, high-level international audience.

Targeted Edits

A suite of tailored presentation versions created to support ongoing international trade events and regional investment promotion campaigns, maximising the film’s long-term commercial ROI.

Data Visualisation

Dedicated motion graphics assets isolating the five key economic investment zones. These adaptable graphics simplify complex regional data for international property developers and policymakers.

Deployment & Impact

Strategic content deployed to drive global inward investment.

International Premiere

The flagship film bypassed standard digital releases to premiere physically at the Greater Manchester stand at MIPIM in Cannes, instantly commanding the attention of global delegates.

Stakeholder Reach

The narrative was engineered to engage a highly influential demographic, successfully resonating with international investors, property developers, and government policymakers worldwide.

Enduring Value

Regarded as one of our most ambitious productions, the film continues to be shared widely across global inward investment networks, functioning as a long-term strategic asset for the region.

Delivering on Objectives

The primary commercial objective was to elevate Greater Manchester above competing global cities on an international stage. The film delivered a fast-paced narrative, striking cinematic visuals, and meticulous sound design that perfectly captured the scale of the region. It received an extremely positive response from the Manchester investment consortium, cementing its role as a vital tool for long-term economic development.

“This film does a brilliant job of bringing Greater Manchester’s growth story to life, showcasing the scale, diversity and ambition of our key investment locations in a way that really resonates with an international audience. It captures the energy of the city-region and helps position us confidently on the global stage as a place where businesses can start, scale and succeed. It has been a pleasure working with Paper Films – their creativity, insight and understanding of place have been invaluable in delivering something that genuinely reflects Invest Manchester and where we’re going.”

Joe Manning, Managing Director at Invest Manchester

Let’s Make It Happen

Manchester HQ. National Reach.

Based in Sun House on Little Peter Street, we are perfectly positioned to deploy crews across Manchester, Liverpool, and the wider UK. You do not need a fully developed script to get started. Whether you have a specific brief or just an initial commercial objective, we act as your strategic partner to bring the project to life.