International Investment Remains Strong In UK

The British Film Commission has announced that the UK has continued to see healthy levels of production spending from international feature films.
At just over £1bn in 2011 – up from £979m in 2010 – the figures from the BFI’s Research and Statistics Unit illustrate that the UK industry remains popular with large scale international productions – generating income for the economy while creating and supporting a large number of jobs.
Productions which started shooting in the UK in 2011 include the 23rd Bond film Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench and Javier Bardem; Cloud Atlas, the international ensemble drama starring Tom Hanks; Danny Boyle’s thriller, Trance, starring James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel; Ridley Scott’s epic sci-fi adventure Prometheus starring Michael Fassbender; period drama Hyde Park on the Hudson directed by Roger Michell starring Bill Murray, Laura Linney and Olivia Williams; Gambit a comedy starring Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz; Marc Forster’s geo-political thriller World War Z starring Brad Pitt; and Bollywood film Housefull 2 starring Amitabh Bachchan.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission said: "2011’s production figures are further evidence that the UK is home to some of the world’s most talented and sought-after film-making talent. Coupled with our excellent infrastructure and facilities, the UK film industry is continuing to have a positive impact on the economy, which at the moment is something which should be celebrated and of which we should be proud. The variety of films choosing to shoot in the UK last year is indicative of the huge range of productions the UK can cater for; from period dramas to sci-fi and a list which includes movies from independents, studios and Bollywood. It is also very positive that a number of films are using the UK as a gateway to shoot in other parts of Europe, in 2010 we saw this with the likes of Scorsese’s Hugo and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows while last year a number of films followed suit including World War Z, Wrath of the Titans, Cloud Atlas and 47 Ronin."
(LB)