Final six UK filmmaking teams selected for Netflix and Creative UK’s BREAKOUT programme
// Film & TV
The 2014 BFI Statistical Yearbook shows UK film is a leading player in a highly competitive global industry, with a UK industry turnover of £7.3 billion, an 11% share of the global box office, UK box office receipts in excess of £1 billion for the third successive year, and over £1 billion of production spend at home on new films shooting in the UK.
“Today’s figures reveal that the UK film industry continues to be not only one of the world’s greatest providers of cinematic entertainment, but also a massive driver of economic growth,” said Culture Minister Ed Vaizey. “With film production spend up almost 30%, and box office takings of more than £1 billion for the third consecutive year, the industry is thriving and we will continue to support this dynamic sector.”
BFI’s Chief Executive Amanda Nevill shared Vaizey’s enthusiasm, saying “It is a very vibrant and buoyant picture for UK film. The Government’s solid commitment to the screen industries combined with our fantastic talent, skills and infrastructure is keeping the UK at the top of its game. Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon currently docked at Pinewood is just one tantalising indication of just how much we remain the destination of choice for international filmmaking. The opportunities for growth in film, high-end television, animation and games are so exciting we need to keep our foot hard down on the accelerator.”
Other highlights from the BFI’s annual Statistics Yearbook include the news that UK films took £4.1 billion at the global box office, animation was the UK’s genre of choice in 2013 for the first time thanks to Despicable Me 2 and a TV airing of Up and Philomena and Rush were the biggest grossing UK independent films at the UK box office and two of the Top 3 biggest grossing indies worldwide.
In the 2013/14 financial year Creative England’s Production Services team supported a record £80.5 million of on-location filming. This was made up of 999 productions shooting across England, including 77 inward investment projects. Our support extended to 95 feature films and 89 TV dramas, 40 of which were also inward investments.
“The UK film industry is booming and it’s not hard to see why,” said Creative England’s Head of Production Services Kaye Elliott. “Our English regions have a fantastic filming infrastructure and second-to-none filming locations, with everything from industrial cities and historic architecture, to rolling countryside and beautiful coastlines. We also have excellent cost-effective studios, facilities and superb crew that make our regions the perfect production base for both international and home-grown productions.
“Let’s not forget that filming and production also has fantastic benefits for the economy too. In the last year alone Creative England has supported £80.5 million of on-location filming, creating jobs for locally-based crew and business for local industries such as vehicle and equipment hire companies, hotels and restaurants.”
For more information on BFI’s Statistical Yearbook, head here.
