The British film industry has bounced back with record-breaking figures, data released by the British Film Institute (BFI) showed on Friday.
Figures published by the BFI’s Research and Statistic Unit revealed that a whopping £5.64 billion ($7.6bn) was spent on film and high-end television production in the UK in 2021, the highest ever reported, and £1.27bn ($1.71bn) more than in the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The BFI said that latest figures underscored the UK’s “global reputation as the world-leading centre” for film and TV production.
Ben Roberts, chief executive of BFI, said: “The groundwork for further growth is under way with expansion of studio spaces and production hot spots across our nations and regions, and working with industry to build up the skilled workforce that we need to meet demand and stay on top of our game.”
Mr Roberts lauded the government’s Culture Recovery Fund for being a “lifeline for independent cinemas” and helping audiences return to the big screen.
The £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas was launched as part of an effort to save the UK’s cultural and heritage sectors, which were severely affected by months-long lockdowns and restrictions.
After continued restrictions in the first half of 2021 stunted the first two quarters of cinema season, the final quarter heralded a trajectory of recovery, with about 40 million admissions.
The long-awaited October release of the James Bond film No Time to Die, which stars Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek as the villain, drew the largest cinema crowds with 16.4 million admissions.
Box office totals for the top 20 independent UK films, including the highest grosser The French Dispatch followed by The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Spencer, reached a total of £26.8 million.
UK domestic (independent) film production spending reach £221 million in 2021, a 39 per cent increase on 2020.
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Lashana Lynch, Daniel Craig and Lea Seydoux attend the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 28, 2021. Photo: Getty -
Actor Rami Malek arrives at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Photo: Getty -
A military band plays at the Royal Albert Hall, London, before the start of the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’. Photo: AFP -
English singer-songwriter Jay Kay attends the world premiere. -
Lashana Lynch, who co-stars in ‘No Time to Die’, attends the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, London. -
Lead actor Daniel Craig gives the trademark James Bond stare on arriving at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’. Photo: Getty -
The opening performance at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ is performed by The Royal Marines Band at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Photo: Getty -
Aquaman actor and producer Jason Momoa attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
'No Time to Die' is believed to be Daniel Craig's final Bond movie. Photo: EPA -
Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas attends the world premiere. Photo: Getty -
American singer-songwriters Finneas O'Connell, left, and Billie Eilish pose for photographers upon arrival for the world premiere. Photo: AP -
Naomie Harris attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
The Royal Marines Band perform at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. -
English actor Daniel Craig walks on the red carpet after arriving at the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of the latest James Bond film. Photo: AFP -
Lea Seydoux attends the world premier event in London. Photo: Getty -
Star Daniel Craig poses during the premiere. 'No Time to Die' will be his fifth James Bond film since starting with 'Casino Royale'. Photo: Reuters -
British actress and TV writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge attends the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. -
Dame Judi Dench attends the premiere. Photo: Getty -
US-British film producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson pose on the red carpet. Broccoli is the daughter of ‘James Bond’ producer Albert Broccoli. Photo: AFP -
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, poses for photographers upon arrival at the world premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 28, 2021. Photo: AP -
Barbara Broccoli; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Michael G Wilson attend the premiere. Photo: Getty -
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by Michael G Wilson at the event. Photo: Getty -
Charles, Price of Wales, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, walk on the red carpet, followed by producer Barbara Broccoli, Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Photo: AP -
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and her husband Charles, Prince of Wales attend the premiere. Photo: Getty
More than 200 films went into production in the UK in 2021, despite continued disruptions brought on by the pandemic, with a total spend of £1.55bn.
High-end TV (HETV) production in the UK has also boomed since the introduction of HETV tax relief in 2013, delivering a record spend of £4.09bn in 2021 from 211 productions, including popular shows Bridgerton and The Crown.
Government support for production with the screen sector tax relief programmes and the Film & TV Production Restart Scheme have played an important part in the industry’s growth and recovery.
In 2007, the UK introduced a tax relief plan allowing production companies to claim up to 25 pence from HM Revenue & Customs for every £1 on qualifying expenditures. The system has since been extended to related sectors including animation, children’s TV and video games.
In the past six years, tax rebates worth more than £4bn have helped fuel a boom in UK film and television production that has transformed the country into a global entertainment hub.
Existing studios like Pinewood and Shepperton are regularly booked by the large companies, spurring an entrepreneurial drive to develop studios.
A new £20 million film studio set to open in spring this year in West London by the founder of RD Content, one of the largest creators of commercial and corporate content in Europe, is only one of a number of spaces cropping up to keep up with the boom in the domestic industry.
Another new 10-acre site, known as The Wharf, is also being built in East London on a larger existing studio complex called Eastbrook Studios, which covers more than 46,000 square metres.
It’s not only the capital meeting the growing demand for UK-based production: last December, planning permission was given for 85,000-square-metre media hub Shinfield Studios in Berkshire, which will be one of the largest film and TV studios in the UK.
Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of the British Film Commission, said the UK is now enjoying a “once-in-a-generation growth in production” and is “determined to harness this phenomenal demand” for content.
“The benefits are being felt right across our nations and regions, with large scale investment in infrastructure and revenue into UK plc that will directly benefit local communities,” said Mr Wootton.
“Existing production hubs are growing to accommodate the demand, and new hubs are developing throughout the UK, bringing with them thousands of new jobs.”
Earlier this month, the UK’s Culture Secretary announced a £50m government investment in creative businesses across the UK to drive economic growth. The investment includes £21m to help build on the international success of the UK film industry through a three-year UK Global Screen Fund.
