Written by Kianna Best on Dec 18, 2024. Posted in General Interest

The Location Guide round-up 2024

And just like that, the 2024 season has come to a close. As the holidays swiftly round the corner, out of office notifications switch on and Spotify wrapped reveals flood social media timelines, we take this time to look at the key moments that have led us to another successful end of the year. From another sun-soaked Cannes experience to a bustling FOCUS gathering, and everything exciting in between, it has truly been a year.

 

 

If you were longing for the nostalgia of a Barbenheimer summer, well this autumn offered the chance to take a trip to Shiz and Sparta. Taking a spin at the remake and sequel roulette, Jon Chu’s Wicked and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II have garnered a combined box office return of USD 137 million, an impressive end to the year’s rollout and providing a little something for everyone.

 

After the strike induced delay, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo stepped into their roles as the belove Glinda and Elphaba for the on screen musical Wicked. Filmed across the UK including locations such as Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard and Sky Studio Elstree, Wicked brought the on stage settings to life, including the magical forest on the outskirts of Oz which used real life birds to capture the authenticity of the idyllic atmosphere.

 

 

With eyes set on the UK for production, the country's studio roster continues to grow, with new constructions such as Sunset Studios in Waltham Cross scheduled to bring Hollywood to North London, and favourites from Shepperton to Pinewood welcoming a slate of blockbuster productions. Bridget Jones retook her throne as a festive season favourite with newcomer Mad About the Boy,  filmed at Shepperton whilst upcoming release Mickey 17 from director Bong Joon-Ho shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.

 

VFX and Indie filming sectors received a welcome leaving gift from the conservative party, in addition to the UK Studios 40% corporate tax relief, setting the tone for an expected 2025 boom. The Independent Film Tax Credit, a staggering 53% relief for projects with budgets up to GBP 15 million, officially came into action in October, a necessary benefit for the often overlooked sub sector of the screen industry. As VFX production continues to ramp up, the added 29.5% net rebate will see the uplift from 1 January 2025.

 

 

On the global stage, Cannes Film Festival awarded some of the most anticipated projects of the year such as Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine is Light and Nebojša Slijepčević’s The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. Situated once again in the Palais des Festivals, The Location Guide were on the ground to meet new faces and familiar ones showing off the spring issue of makers magazine and putting out the word for the 2024 edition of FOCUS London.

 

FOCUS returned to the Business Design Centre in London for another jam packed two day event, welcoming some of the most notable voices in the screen industry. With the conference’s new bitesize TED talk style additions, to overflowing sessions across business and leadership, craft and creativity, as well as tech an innovation, no rock was left unturned from the theatres to the show floor. Networking remained at the heart of the event as exhibitors had the chance to mingle with, and meet eager delegates, exchanging thoughts and ideas for collaboration and inspiration in the new year.

 

Thank you all for your support this year and we look forward to seeing you in 2025!

 

Sincerely,

The Location Guide Team