Written by Joe Jackson on Jan 27, 2022. Posted in General Interest

Screen Suffolk's busy year brings GBP3.1 million boost to local economy

Screen Suffolk has reported its busiest year to date. 243 filming days were recorded in the county throughout 2021, marking a 72% increase on the previous year’s tally. An average of 30 filming days a year were recorded before Screen Suffolk’s launch in 2016, emphasising the film office’s growing influence in recent years. The organisation estimates that a day of filming generates around GBP13,000 for the country, meaning 2021 alone boosted the local economy by approximately GBP3.1million.

“We’re delighted that Screen Suffolk has built on its previous success in achieving its best year since we launched,” says Karen Everett, director of Screen Suffolk and CEO at Filmfixer. “Last year we attracted numerous Feature and HETV productions to utilise the wonderful locations and facilities all within an easy reach of the M25. The support we offer to productions ensures that time and again they return to Suffolk to film.”

2021 saw countless productions visit the county. The Dig featured Ralph Fiennes and became one of last year’s biggest releases. Stephen Moyer’s sophomore feature A Bit of Light starred Ray Winstone and Anna Paquin alongside Pippa Bennett-Warner and BAFTA nominee Youssef Kerkour.

Magpie Murders, which releases on Britbox in February, filmed for two weeks in picturesque village of Kersey and used Ipswich as a double London. In 2021, the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo site recorded its busiest August since opening in 2002, and officials attribute this phenomenon to the film.

‘We worked with the location team to help bring Kersey to life as 1950s Suffolk,” explains operations and business development manager Rachel Aldridge. “This required a two week road closure which wouldn’t have been possible without the ‘can do’ attitude of our councils and residents.’”

Formed thanks to the support and financial backing of the local councils, the film office aims to generate economic spend in the county, acting as the principal port-of-call for producers who seek to film their projects in Suffolk. Filmmakers can access Screen Suffolk’s showreel and find out more about production opportunities in the county via the office’s official website.