The U.K. government unveiled a £75 million ($100 million) “Screen Growth Package” for the film and TV industries on Saturday as the Labour Party administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer focuses on future upside in the sector as part of its bid to provide a boost to the broader economy.
The “funding boost for the for U.K.’s world-class film and TV industry … forms a central pillar of next week’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, designed to enhance the U.K.’s status as a global creative superpower by 2035,” it said.
Beyond further developing the U.K. film and TV industries, one goal is to “open doors for young talent from all backgrounds and secure the nation’s position as a world-leading production hub.” The package also includes support for augmented reality and motion capture technology.
Key elements of the strategic funding initiative include expanding the U.K. Global Screen Fund to £18 million ($24 million) annually over the 2026-2029 period “to develop international business capabilities, enable co-productions and showcase independent U.K. screen content worldwide,” investing £10 million ($13.5 million) to expand the National Film and Television School at its primary site in Beaconsfield, plus “unlocking £11 million ($14.8 million) in investment from industry and private supporters, including from the Walt Disney Company, the Dana and Albert R. Broccoli Foundation and Sky” for it. The goal is to modernize the school facilities, making them fully accessible for students with disabilities and educate 2,000 new trainees and apprentices over the next decade.
The government also said it plans “a significantly expanded BFI Film Academy” to open pathways for young people from underrepresented backgrounds, “providing hands-on filmmaking experience and specialist training for 16-25 year olds.”
And it vowed that the package would also “strengthen the U.K.’s international appeal through continued support for the prestigious BFI London Film Festival and funding for the British Film Commission to attract further inward investment.”
An investment of £25 million in businesses that are “creating the next phase of augmented reality and motion capture technology, which has been used for productions including Wicked, A Picture of Dorian Gray and Those About to Die,” is also part of the initiatives.
On top of the Screen Growth Package, the government unveiled “a new £150 million ($200 million) Creative Places Growth Fund” for such areas as Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Sunderland to allow local leaders “to support development of regional screen agencies and production funds to boost our film and TV clusters across the country.”
All in all, the goal is to protect and expand the strength of the British creative sector.
“From Barbie and Killing Eve to Adolescence and Saltburn, the U.K. already has a stellar track record of producing award-winning films and cutting-edge TV which are enjoyed by millions at home and around the world,” said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. “But I want us to go further and to cement the U.K. as the best place on Earth to make film and television … This landmark Sector Plan puts the creative industries at the heart of our economic growth strategy and is key to making that ambition a reality.”
The full Creative Industries Sector Plan will be published next week as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy, which identifies the film and TV industry as a high-growth sub-sector along with music, video games and advertising.
“The plan provides foundations for the government to take action to support public service media and the wider television ecosystem, building on the Media Act and Ofcom’s public service media review which is due this summer,” the administration said. “The BBC Charter Review will also launch later this year, to set the BBC up for success long into the future.”
Big names from the film and TV sector lauded the Screen Growth Package.
British Film Institute CEO Ben Roberts said, “we’re pleased the government recognizes that our world-class screen industries drive regional growth and add billions to the U.K. economy — and that the BFI plays an important part in that success. Through the BFI Film Academy, we open doors for young people from under-represented backgrounds.”
EON Productions’ Barbara Broccoli said she was “thrilled” about the help for the National Film and Television School. “The NFTS is a world-class institution that has trained some of the most talented members of our industry, and I’m especially pleased this investment will focus on much needed support for persons with disabilities,” she highlighted.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer of Sky, added: “The NFTS plays a vital role in developing the U.K.’s creative talent. Our investment underscores our commitment to skills development and sector growth, and we’re excited to see future generations benefit from the school’s outstanding work.”
Said Wayne Garvie, president international production, Sony Pictures Television: “It’s wonderful that the government both recognizes the importance of the film and television sector in its Industrial Strategy and the role the NFTS plays in developing the next generation of great British creative talent.”
Jon Wardle, director of the National Film and Television School, emphasized: “The real-world impact of the sector plan in action will be felt through the NFTS’ expanded ability to train world-class, diverse talent and fuel growth in a sector where the U.K. is a global leader. In a challenging climate for the creative industries, the support from the government isn’t just welcome, it’s strategic.”
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