14/09/2015 - £1.75 million Production Growth Fund encourages producers to base productions in Scotland

On the set of Macbeth, partially shot in Scotland

Scotland has announced a new £1.75 million Production Growth Fund aimed as an incentive for international film and television producers to base their productions in the region. Awards from the Fund will be made based on spend in Scotland, opportunities provided to Scottish based crew and facilities and co-production opportunities for Scottish based production companies. The Fund will comprise £0.75 million from the Scottish Government and £1 million from Creative Scotland. It will run over the remainder of 2015/16 and 2016/17. The new Fund follows the introduction of a £2 million Tax Credit Advance Facility and a £1 million Screen Skills Fund, announced earlier this year.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said, “Scotland’s screen sector has the talent and skills to deliver world-class films and attract major productions, as we have seen with World War Z [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Skyfall [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile], Under the Skin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonathan Glazer
film profile], Outlander and the much-anticipated Macbeth [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
film profile]. But we know that if we are to deliver on our ambitions, we need to deliver more for the sector. That is why we are working with our partners to deliver increased incentives for film and TV.”

Producer Iain Smith said, “This is a great initiative which will undoubtedly have a very positive impact on film and TV production levels in Scotland. Not only is it well-judged strategic support from Scottish Government it also indicates that there is a political will to encourage economic growth in the creative industries in Scotland.”