Written by Kianna Best on Nov 20, 2023. Posted in Production News

BBC Global Questions and Newsnight programmes film in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka welcomed an edition of BBC Global Questions and Newsnight centred around global warming and cost of living. Line produced by Frames TV & Film Production, the project marks the largest BBC production completed in the country. BBC news presenters Zeinab Badawi and Kirsty Wark served as moderators for the programme.

Faced with years if economic and political turmoil, Sri Lanka’s screen industry expectedly took a hit. But, persevering and taking a turn for the better, the country recently welcomed the BBC for the filming of the network’s Global Questions and Newsnight programming. Broadcast across BBC World TV, BBC World Service Radio, and BBC iPlayer, the respective programmes reach an estimated 485 million of audiences globally every week.

Line producer Shyaman Premasundara commented: “As a result of our joint film tourism promotion undertaken with SLTPB (Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau) at the British Film Location Show FOCUS to promote Destination Sri Lanka for British & European Cinemas, Frames TV & Film Production Services were able to connect with the representatives from BBC UK, laying the foundation for the filming of the BBC Global Questions an News Night programmes in Sri Lanka.”

With a request from BBC for a tropical colonial background for the production, Sri Lanka aesthetically fit, conducting filming mainly at the National Museum Garden in Colombo. In the open set environment, production catered to the 5 panelists, as well as 250 participants in the museum garden area. The production, which was live fed via satellite to London, featured two Global Questions programmes and two of Newsnight. For the project, Frames TV & Film Production Services worked woth BBC editor Geraldine Ryan, director Christopher Nelson, producer Phoebe Hopson and DOP Neil Paton.

Moderated by BBC news presenters Zeinab Badawi and Kirsty Wark, the Sri Lanka shot production highlighted discussions on topics including climate change and the increase of living costs, particularly in third world countries. Filmed in Sri Lanka, not only did the production bring a great opportunity for the local industry, but also drew in awareness for the current economic and political situation of the nation. Contributing to the local community of Sri Lanka, BBC, in collaboration with Frames, organised time for an on-site training programme for upcoming university students who are studying media and film in their respective institutions.

Images courtesy of Frames TV & Film Production