14/01/2003

According to a study on film production in the UK published today by the Film Council, the UK was involved in the production of a total of 115 films. This includes 30 inward investment productions, 42 UK productions and 43 co-productions.
At 42, the number of domestic productions fell by 17 per cent and spending in those productions was also down 8,2 per cent from GBP180.12m (Euros270m) in 2001 to GBP165,25m (Euros248m) in 2002. However thanks to international productions (mostly US) choosing to use UK locations - for example, Paramount’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider 2, inward investment was up by 16 per cent from GBP230.46m(Euros346m) in 2001 to GBP267.84m(Euros401m) last year.
“The fact that inward investment increased substantially last year thanks partly to the latest Bond and Tomb Raider films shows that the UK continues to be recognised by international filmmakers as one of the best places in the world to make a film. Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency about the future,” said British Film Commissioner Steve Norris.
“Both inward investment and domestic production figures show a clear trend towards fewer films with bigger budgets, whilst the first-ever figures showing the return for the UK from co-productions filming abroad highlight the increasing international nature of the film industry”.
Among the 42 domestic productions of 2002 are the James Bond spoof Johnny English starring Rowan Atkinson and John Malkovich, Richard Curtis’ directorial debut Love Actually with Hugh Grant, and Ted And Sylvia with Gwyneth Paltrow.