September 30, 2026
Filming in England awarded over £2m UK Government funding
Filming in England awarded over £2m UK Government funding via the BFI to strengthen England’s production support ecosystem
Filming in England, part of Creative UK, has secured £2.1 million of funding across three years from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), administered through the BFI.
This investment secures the continuation of a coordinated, industry-led production support service for feature film and high-end television (HETV) productions across England’s regions, ensuring the country remains an attractive and competitive destination for screen production.
The grant-in-aid funding reinforces the vital role England’s regions play in the continued growth of the UK screen sector, aligning with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, which identifies the Creative Industries as a Priority Growth Sector. The funding forms part of the Government’s £75 million Screen Growth Package, announced through the Creative Industries Sector Plan, with the £2.1 million allocated to enhancing production support services across English regions outside London.
As a production support agency for the regions of England, Filming in England coordinates the country’s production support ecosystem, strengthens collaboration across regional partners and provides the intelligence, insight and evidence needed to inform policy, investment and sector development.
Their work has involved supporting recent major releases Hamnet, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Project Hail Mary, TV series Tip Toe and Rivals and upcoming releases Pride and Prejudice (2026), Sense and Sensibility (2026), Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Werwulf and Avengers: Doomsday.
While taking a strategic perspective across the nation, Filming in England’s remit also recognises and champions the distinct strengths of individual regions and production hubs. This place-based approach supports sustainable growth across England’s screen industry landscape, including all five of the officially recognised Production Hubs in England: the South East, South West (Bristol), West Midlands (Birmingham), North West (Manchester and Liverpool), and Yorkshire (Leeds).
Under the new funding remit, Filming in England will continue to provide nationally coordinated production support for film and HETV productions, strengthen partnerships across England’s production support network, connect productions with locations, crew, suppliers and studio space, support industry collaboration, and further develop the evidence base that demonstrates the sector’s economic impact.
At the heart of Filming in England’s approach is partnership. Working closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, Combined Authorities, regional, city and county screen agencies, film offices and local authorities, Filming in England helps ensure a connected, responsive and production-ready support network across England.
This activity was previously funded by the BFI, awarding National Lottery, and this grant-in-aid funding represents a shift towards a more strategic, long-term funding model.
For more information and to read the full Delivery Principles, click here.
Commenting on the announcement, Hayley Armstrong, Film Commissioner and Head of Filming in England, said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding, which recognises the importance of a connected, collaborative and industry-led production support network across England. Our thanks go to DCMS and the BFI for their continued support and commitment to strengthening the infrastructure that enables film and television productions to thrive in every region.”
“We are equally grateful for the National Lottery funding that has supported Filming in England since 2010. That investment helped create a strong national network and a trusted production support service for industry. Building on that foundation, we will continue to work with partners across the country to strengthen regional production support, unlock opportunities for local economies and ensure England remains a world-class destination for film and high-end television production.”
Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray said: “We’re proud to back Filming in England to deliver production support services, working alongside partners in our incredible creative clusters and film production hubs across the country.
“The Government’s industrial strategy set out our commitment to making this country the best place in the world to invest in the creative industries. Working closely with Creative UK, we are turning that ambition into reality.
“This funding will strengthen production support right across England, helping to create jobs, to bring in investment that boosts local economies, and to cement our reputation as a world leader in production.”
Jack Powell, BFI’s Director of Policy & Public Affairs, said: “The Government’s £2m investment in the Filming in England programme as part of its Creative Industries Sector Plan, is a very welcome step in supporting our world leading film and TV production sector. This funding will enable Filming in England’s expert team to work closely with partners across the regions of England to support productions – helping communities across the nation benefit from jobs, investment, and the opportunity to see their local areas on screen, as well as boosting the UK economy. The BFI will work closely with the team, as well as these wider partners, across the course of the programme.”
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, said: “I am delighted that Filming in England, one of the BFC’s long-standing partners in attracting and supporting the production of US film and TV in the UK, have secured ongoing Government support and funding. This will provide essential continuity and stability of services to the English regions. We look forward to extending our productive partnership with Filming in England to ensure the English regions continue to attract some of the most high-profile and recognisable film and TV titles watched and loved by audiences around the world.”
About Filming in England:
Filming in England is England’s National Production Support Agency, with a government-backed remit to coordinate, strengthen and champion the country’s production support ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships and industry collaboration, we help build regional capacity while providing the intelligence, insight and evidence needed to inform policy, investment and sector growth.
Our nationally coordinated, regionally based team provides free, comprehensive support to feature film and high-end television (HETV) productions working across England. In partnership with Film Offices, regional screen agencies, local authorities and industry partners, we support productions at every stage of the production journey, from early feasibility and planning through to delivery and post-production. By connecting productions with England’s world-class locations, skilled workforce, suppliers, studios and build spaces, we help unlock opportunities across the country and ensure a smooth, efficient and production-friendly experience.
Connecting England. Enabling Production. Growing Opportunity.
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About the BFI
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK‘s lead organisation for film and the moving image.
The BFI’s mission is:
– To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
– To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive
– To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals — delivered online and in venue
– To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding of film and the moving image
– To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt OBE.
About Creative UK:
Creative UK is the national membership body for the cultural and creative industries. We exist to champion creativity in its widest form – representing world-leading organisations from sectors as diverse as advertising, animation, architecture, broadcasting, crafts, design, digital, education, fashion, games, heritage, museums, music, performing arts, photography, publishing, theatre, TV, visual art and more. We are an independent not-for-profit, which uses the insight and experience of our members to help shape relevant government policy and advocate for meaningful change. Change that will benefit UK businesses, citizens and communities.
Our vision is a world where creativity is valued and recognised as the driving force for our future. We’re so passionate about this that we put our money where our mouth is: through own landmark investment funds, we’ve directly invested millions of pounds into creative businesses over the last decade.
Our team is based across the UK, and we work closely with Local and Combined Authorities to support creative talent, whilst delivering hands-on support – spanning business diagnostics, mentoring and investment readiness.
Our Filming in England service is a dedicated and bespoke production service to feature film and high-end TV productions looking to film in England, outside of London.
About the British Film Commission:
The British Film Commission (BFC) is the UK Government’s national organisation responsible for international film and television production in the UK. Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the BFI, the BFC leads on:
– Maximising and supporting the production of major international feature film and high-end television in the UK;
– Strengthening and promoting the UK’s film and television infrastructure;
– Liaising between the Government and the film and television industry on policy issues that impact on production.
With offices in the UK and the US, the BFC provides free tailored production support at the highest level, from the earliest stages of development through to post-production, including guidance on the UK’s lucrative film and television tax reliefs and assistance with sourcing key crew, talent, facilities and locations.
The BFC has industry sponsors who form the membership of the agency’s innovative public/private partnership: Bray Film Studios, Harbottle & Lewis, HBO, Movie Makers, Netflix, NBC Universal, Pinewood Studios, Saffery, Shadowbox Studios Shinfield, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., 3 Mills Studios, The Bottle Yard Studios, BBC Studio Works, Elstree Studios, Framestore and Working Title.
The BFC is the national division of Film London www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk
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