British Film Commission welcomes new sponsors, BFI funding boost

This comes as the British Film Institute’s Forward Plan outlines an additional £200,000 for the Commission for total annual backing from the BFI of £600,000.

The increased budget will be used to maintain the BFC’s work in the US. Also, as recently reported, the BFC is also partnering with UK Trade & Investment to grow other international activity in film as well as TV (which will get a boost if the proposed TV tax credits come into effect next year).

The BFC noted that in 2011 inward investment films generated approximately £3.7bn to GDP and £1bn in Exchequer revenues, with titles such as Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises and Prometheus shooting in the UK. This year’s shoots include Maleficent, Fast And The Furious 6, Thor 2 and All You Need Is Kill.

The three new sponsors join the likes of Disney, Framestore, Harbottle & Lewis, Pinewood Studios Group, Saffery Champness and Warner Bros.

Adrian Wootton (pictured), Chief Executive of the British Film Commission and Film London, said: “We are delighted the BFI has committed an additional £200,000 to the British Film Commission. This will enable us to drive forward in promoting the UK as the best place in the world to produce films and ensuring the UK is attractive to international investment.

“In tandem with our partnership with UKTI it allows us to explore new territories and capitalise on the potential TV tax credit, ensuring that inward investment through film production remains a growth industry in the UK, delivering for the economy and creating jobs.

“We would also like to thank our new sponsors Double Negative, MPC and Working Title Films for their generosity. What better endorsement of the work of the BFC than sponsorship from our commercial partners and I am gratefully for their ongoing support.”