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Country Focus: UK

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Articles, interviews, news, analysis on the UK audiovisual sector.

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Country profile: United Kingdom

Country profile: United Kingdom

27 June 2023

The UK launches a 40% tax credit on films budgeted up to £15 million

Industry / Market - UK

The UK launches a 40% tax credit on films budgeted up to £15 million

The governmental measure, set to run until 2034, has been welcomed by the British Film Institute and over 100 key industry reps  

12 March 2024

Bectu calls for industry summit as freelancers struggle to recover from the impact of the Hollywood strikes

Industry / Market - UK

Bectu calls for industry summit as freelancers struggle to recover from the impact of the Hollywood strikes

Head of UK creative industry union Philippa Childs penned a letter to the government’s culture secretary Lucy Frazer  

01 March 2024

Álvaro Carmona, Greg Davies and Teodora Markova discuss going “beyond the punchline” to capture international audiences

Berlinale 2024 – EFM

Álvaro Carmona, Greg Davies and Teodora Markova discuss going “beyond the punchline” to capture international audiences

BERLINALE 2024: The Berlinale Series Market panel discussion focused on the shows The Cleaner, Show Yourself and Soviet Jeans  

23 February 2024

MUBI buys a majority stake in independent Benelux distributor Cinéart

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - UK/Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg

MUBI buys a majority stake in independent Benelux distributor Cinéart

The move marks MUBI’s first acquisition of a distributor and constitutes a significant milestone in the company’s expansion across the European arthouse market  

09 February 2024

The UK and Irish box office grew by 8.3% in 2023

Box Office - UK/Ireland

The UK and Irish box office grew by 8.3% in 2023

Figures published by Comscore demonstrate a good year for Irish and British cinemas, with revenues mostly driven by Barbenheimer attracting audiences en masse  

11 January 2024

Independent UK exhibitors share financial worries and hopes in new survey

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - UK

Independent UK exhibitors share financial worries and hopes in new survey

In a report published by the Independent Cinema Office, around half of the respondents revealed they operated at a loss over this financial year  

25 October 2023

The producers of the Cannes hit The Settlers explore its complex co-production journey

London 2023

The producers of the Cannes hit The Settlers explore its complex co-production journey

At a BFI London Industry Talk, Giancarlo Nasi and Emily Morgan unveiled how the film was brought to the screen courtesy of nine co-production countries and the UK Global Screen Fund  

13 October 2023

Cartoon Forum trains the spotlight on UK animation

Cartoon 2023 – Cartoon Forum

Cartoon Forum trains the spotlight on UK animation

In Toulouse, five new British projects have been pitched to the industry reps in attendance  

20 September 2023

At Animist Tallinn, Dave McKean talks creativity, and traces back his career in film and animation

Animist Tallinn 2023

At Animist Tallinn, Dave McKean talks creativity, and traces back his career in film and animation

The British artist showed clips from some of his projects and regaled the audience with a live reading of his audiovisual poem [N]eon  

21 August 2023

The UK Global Screen Fund Data Hub promises to help the sector navigate the inaccessibility of viewership data from US streamers

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - UK

The UK Global Screen Fund Data Hub promises to help the sector navigate the inaccessibility of viewership data from US streamers

The hub will provide information on International Demand and International Viewership for the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain  

03 August 2023

A brand-new doc-focused body, the Documentary Film Council, to launch at Sheffield DocFest

Sheffield Doc Fest 2023

A brand-new doc-focused body, the Documentary Film Council, to launch at Sheffield DocFest

The organisation is a UK-wide participatory initiative that has been co-designed by filmmakers and executives in partnership with researchers at UWE Bristol  

15 June 2023

Film London launches the Grid Project, set to supply renewable energy to productions shooting across the British capital

Industry / Market - UK

Film London launches the Grid Project, set to supply renewable energy to productions shooting across the British capital

The installation of electrical feeder pillars will reduce CO2, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide to zero at point of use  

14 June 2023

At Cartoon Next, experts survey the state of the animation industry in Italy, France, the UK and Lithuania

Cartoon 2023 – Cartoon Next

At Cartoon Next, experts survey the state of the animation industry in Italy, France, the UK and Lithuania

There is a bright future ahead for European animation, but a few battles to gain more funding, more manpower and better working conditions still need to be fought  

21 April 2023

Films and TV programmes feature a "glaring absence" of climate change-related terms

Industry / Market - Europe/UK/USA

Films and TV programmes feature a "glaring absence" of climate change-related terms

A recent study in the USA found that only 0.6% of scripts mentioned the term "climate change" at least once between 2016 and 2020, and a UK study came to similar disheartening conclusions  

13 April 2023

BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund opens as part of £54 million worth of support measures for British films and talent

Industry / Market - UK

BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund opens as part of £54 million worth of support measures for British films and talent

£36.6 million will be handed out over the course of three years, offering “crucial support” for the UK independent feature-film sector through four new funds  

24 March 2023

Fremantle Documentaries launches a brand-new premium label, Undeniable

CPH:DOX 2023 – CPH:DOX Industry

Fremantle Documentaries launches a brand-new premium label, Undeniable

The new label pledges to work on “provocative, entertaining, diverse, and influential films and series that push the boundaries of storytelling and challenge assumptions about the world around us”  

24 March 2023

The UK announces a new package of reforms to its audiovisual tax relief

Industry / Market - UK

The UK announces a new package of reforms to its audiovisual tax relief

Film and high-end TV productions will be eligible for a credit rate of 34%, whilst animation and children’s TV productions will benefit from a 39% rate  

20 March 2023

EU and UK cinema attendance up 63% in 2022 but still short of pre-pandemic levels, the European Audiovisual Observatory finds

Box Office - Europe/UK/Turkey

EU and UK cinema attendance up 63% in 2022 but still short of pre-pandemic levels, the European Audiovisual Observatory finds

In the two territories, ticket sales for 2022 were 34.5% below the 2017-2019 average, accounting for an estimated loss of 338.9 million admissions  

17 February 2023

Italy will be present at the 8th edition of FOCUS-The Meeting Place for International Production

Industry / Market - UK/Italy

Italy will be present at the 8th edition of FOCUS-The Meeting Place for International Production

The event will unspool on 6 and 7 December in London’s Business Design Centre, showcasing the services, funds and locations available to international productions  

02 December 2022

The fifth The Whickers’ Cost of Docs Survey published

Industry / Market - UK

The fifth The Whickers’ Cost of Docs Survey published

The latest edition of the survey finds that the cost of documentary making continues to rise, leading many to “cut corners” but far fewer to compromise on editing costs  

26 October 2022

Berlinale Generation hit The Quiet Girl surpasses the €1 million mark at the British and Irish box office

Box Office - Ireland/UK

Berlinale Generation hit The Quiet Girl surpasses the €1 million mark at the British and Irish box office

Colm Bairéad’s coming-of-age drama has already broken several records for an Irish-language film and continues to reach new heights as the highest-grossing such film in history  

13 October 2022

The BFI sets out its ambitious new ten-year strategy, Screen Culture 2033

Industry / Market - UK

The BFI sets out its ambitious new ten-year strategy, Screen Culture 2033

The UK’s leading film body has outlined a wide-ranging corporate strategy for the next decade, setting itself new targets for raising revenue and engaging with the public  

05 October 2022

UK sees loss of half a million streaming subscriptions for Q2 of 2022

Industry / Market - UK

UK sees loss of half a million streaming subscriptions for Q2 of 2022

Inflation rises and shifting consumer habits have contributed to declines for SVoD services such as Netflix, aligning with global trends  

21 July 2022

"What’s next in mental health?" asked the experts at the inaugural OKRE Summit

Institutions / Legislation - UK/Europe

"What’s next in mental health?" asked the experts at the inaugural OKRE Summit

The panel focused on the different approaches to depicting mental health in film and media, and what could change for the better  

15 July 2022

The Roma Lazio Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions have made new commitments to the Ukraine, the UK and Israel

Industry / Market - Italy/Ukraine/UK/Israel

The Roma Lazio Film Commission and the Italian Film Commissions have made new commitments to the Ukraine, the UK and Israel

CANNES 2022: The regional body has promised to host Ukrainian talent and presented the 2nd Crossing Script, whilst the national association has signed a memorandum with the British Film Commission  

25 May 2022

HanWay Films sets sail for Cannes with Jerzy Skolimowski’s competition entry EO

Cannes 2022 – Marché du Film

HanWay Films sets sail for Cannes with Jerzy Skolimowski’s competition entry EO

The UK sales agent has also boarded Stefano Mordini’s rally drama 2 Win and Uberto Pasolini’s The Odyssey-inspired The Return  

18 May 2022

2021 saw limited recovery of EU and UK theatrical markets, with attendance up 31.5% on 2020

Box Office - Europe/UK

2021 saw limited recovery of EU and UK theatrical markets, with attendance up 31.5% on 2020

The European Audiovisual Observatory has published its latest figures on cinemagoing, which reveal a 58% drop compared to pre-pandemic levels  

13 May 2022

Movio finds blockbusters are attracting UK cinemagoers to cinemas, but providing a diversified offering remains essential

Industry / Market - UK

Movio finds blockbusters are attracting UK cinemagoers to cinemas, but providing a diversified offering remains essential

The study highlights the huge appetite for diverse content and how certain key demographics remain underserved by the British market  

12 May 2022

The UK's BritBox set to launch in Scandinavia on 28 April

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - Sweden/Norway/Finland/Denmark/UK

The UK's BritBox set to launch in Scandinavia on 28 April

The streaming service’s rich slate of audiovisual productions will include Britbox Originals, exclusive new series and TV classics  

25 April 2022

The final round of the UK’s Culture Recovery Fund set to rescue independent cinemas

Institutions / Legislation - UK

The final round of the UK’s Culture Recovery Fund set to rescue independent cinemas

The emergency funding, consisting of over £500,000 as part of a wider £35 million aid package, is vital to survive the crisis and bring back audiences to theatres  

04 April 2022

Film London launches eco-friendly pilot Grid Project

Industry / Market - UK

Film London launches eco-friendly pilot Grid Project

Announced on Thursday 24 March, the agency’s initiative promises to supply renewable energy to productions in the capital, with the effect of reducing CO2 and NO2 emissions as well as noise pollution  

28 March 2022

The UK’s Film and TV Charity launches The Whole Picture Toolkit

Industry / Market - UK

The UK’s Film and TV Charity launches The Whole Picture Toolkit

The brand new service will support the implementation of healthy working practices as part of the body’s Let’s Reset campaign  

21 March 2022

ITV announces new streaming service ITVX

Industry / Market - UK

ITV announces new streaming service ITVX

Set to launch later this year, ITVX will be the UK’s first integrated advertising and subscription funded platform  

08 March 2022

Amazon pledges £10 million to support the UK’s TV and film training and development

Industry / Market - UK

Amazon pledges £10 million to support the UK’s TV and film training and development

Through its new Prime Video Pathway training initiative, Amazon is aiming to ease access to audiovisual jobs with a commitment across the next three years  

04 March 2022

BBC Studios and Sky Deutschland ink a factual output deal

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - UK/Germany

BBC Studios and Sky Deutschland ink a factual output deal

The agreement, covering 150 hours of factual content, includes titles such as Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World, Louis Theroux: Shooting Joe Exotic and David Attenborough: The Sound of Nature  

03 March 2022

Netflix and Creative UK team up to kick off genre-based programme Breakout

Industry / Market - USA/UK

Netflix and Creative UK team up to kick off genre-based programme Breakout

The new programme will fund new, high-quality projects developed by British filmmakers, and at least one of them will receive a £1.5 million production budget  

24 February 2022

The UK’s Film and TV Charity publishes a study on mental health in the film and TV industry after COVID-19

Industry / Market - UK

The UK’s Film and TV Charity publishes a study on mental health in the film and TV industry after COVID-19

The body defined the results as “mildly encouraging” at first glance, but the pandemic and the recent production boom have brought new challenges alongside new opportunities  

23 February 2022

HanWay Films shops four new titles at the European Film Market

Berlinale 2022 – EFM

HanWay Films shops four new titles at the European Film Market

The UK-based sales company is touting Sweet Sue, Morning, Hot Milk and Breaking Point at the online marketplace  

10 February 2022

An impressive year for the UK film industry, boding well for future

Industry / Market - UK

An impressive year for the UK film industry, boding well for future

The figures provided by the British Film Institute reveal a record £5.64 billion film and high-end TV production spend in the country, and a promising trend in terms of cinemagoing  

08 February 2022

The BBC’s licence fee set to be frozen at £159 for two years and to be phased out by 2027

Industry / Market - UK

The BBC’s licence fee set to be frozen at £159 for two years and to be phased out by 2027

A tweet published by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has sparked debate and prompted strong reactions, making the pubcaster’s future more uncertain and forcing it to seek alternative funding models  

20 January 2022

MUBI acquires The Match Factory

Industry / Market - UK/Germany

MUBI acquires The Match Factory

Aiming to “bring beautiful cinema to film lovers”, the new collaboration will open up new opportunities to nourish the future of the cinema that both companies adore  

17 January 2022

The post-Brexit UK Global Screen Fund is renewed

Industry / Market - UK

The post-Brexit UK Global Screen Fund is renewed

After its launch in April this year, the £7 million fund has been renewed for a further three years, with international producers also reaping the benefits  

30 December 2021

Four British filmmakers launch pressure group Underlying Health Conditions and reveal a report on accessibility issues in the audiovisual industry

Industry / Market - UK

Four British filmmakers launch pressure group Underlying Health Conditions and reveal a report on accessibility issues in the audiovisual industry

Writer Jack Thorne, actress Genevieve Barr, production manager Katie Player and producer Holly Luban launched the group at the Tate Gallery on the occasion of the International Day of Disabled Persons  

07 December 2021

Exploring the partnership opportunities between Estonian and British producers at Tallinn

Black Nights 2021 – Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event

Exploring the partnership opportunities between Estonian and British producers at Tallinn

After an introduction about the two countries’ main funding options, Estonian and British producers shared their experiences on joint projects, such as Undergods and Last Sentinel  

30 November 2021

The BFI London Film Festival announces the line-up of its second Works-in-Progress showcase

London 2021

The BFI London Film Festival announces the line-up of its second Works-in-Progress showcase

The initiative will offer first looks at seven new projects being made by emerging British talents  

05 October 2021

New app Call It! to monitor and prevent workplace bullying and discrimination in the film and TV industry

Industry / Market - UK

New app Call It! to monitor and prevent workplace bullying and discrimination in the film and TV industry

The tool will empower everyone working in the sector to record incidents anonymously, providing easy access to procedures for formal reporting and signposting mental-health support  

30 September 2021

Amazon launches ad-based streaming service IMDb TV in the UK

Distribution / Releases / Exhibitors - UK/USA

Amazon launches ad-based streaming service IMDb TV in the UK

The ad-supported platform will feature a rich library of classics along with IMDb TV originals, such as the docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary and Moment of Truth  

30 September 2021

The Film and TV Charity’s latest report discloses what is not working in the UK’s creative diversity agenda

Institutions / Legislation - UK

The Film and TV Charity’s latest report discloses what is not working in the UK’s creative diversity agenda

The study highlights the existence of a “lost generation” of talents who cannot benefit from the current diversity initiatives, as these mostly focus on nurturing young talent  

23 September 2021

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