Written by Shona Smith on Jul 28, 2021. Posted in General Interest

UK Production Investment Thanks to Restart Scheme Totals GBP1.9 Billion

640 UK film and TV productions have gone into production in the last 12 months thanks to the Government's Film and TV Production Restart Scheme. Television series Peaky Blinders, Baptiste (pictured right) for Television, feature films Mothering Sunday, Benediction and A Christmas Number One among productions backed by the scheme.

The Government Film and TV Production Restart Scheme saw film and television productions which were ready to start or restart but were unable to secure insurance against potential Coronavirus-related delays and interruptions such as illness amongst key cast and crew.

The scheme was later extended to provide cover until the end of 2021.

The scheme enabled stalled productions to get off the ground in the second half of 2020, a major part of a wider sector bounce back. A GBP1.9 billion spend in the final quarter of 2020 was the second highest for any quarter on record.

To date the restart scheme has enabled 640 independent films and television productions with a total GBP1.9 billion budget spend to start or restart within a year of the scheme being set up.  More than 55,000 jobs have been provided by registered productions, more than the expected 40,000 jobs first forecast.

Several television productions registered with the scheme have returned or are returning to our screens shortly including The Bay, Baptiste, Peaky Blinders and Gentleman Jack.

Supported film such as Mothering Sunday starring Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Olivia Colman and Colin Firth has just had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and Boxing Day, the UK’s first ever festive romantic comedy starring an all-black cast were films which registered early with the scheme. Terence Davies’ Benediction starring Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi has just been announced for screening at the San Sebastian and Toronto International Film Festival, both taking place in September.

John McVay, Pact CEO said: "At a time when UK TV and film productions were looking as if they would never get back to work, the Government's Film & TV Production Restart Scheme provided the critical business support for the sector, enabling them to start or re-start their productions, keeping people in jobs and getting new content on UK screens.

Productions across the UK play an important role in the wider economy too, providing income for locations, catering companies, transport firms and many more. So the scheme’s benefits extend beyond just our sector.

One year on and UK TV and Film production is thriving thanks to the Government's support. As we move through the recovery phase, the continued confidence that the scheme provides is as vital as ever, and remains essential where commercial insurance is absent.”

Image Credits: Peaky Blinders: BBC / Caryn Mandabach Productions / Anthony Byrne. Baptiste: BBC / Two Brothers Productions.