The UK’s creative sector received more than £700 million in government support over the last year, according to new statistics.
The record figure was reached thanks to support for TV shows such as Netflix’s The Crown, and independent film Lady Macbeth, which both benefitted from the high-end tax reliefs.
“Worth £4.3 billion to the economy, UK film is the country’s fastest growing sector, employing over 66,000 people,” said British Film Institute CEO Amanda Nevill.
“The UK is one of the world’s most important production hubs and the tax reliefs for the screen industries have enabled this unprecedented growth across the country, creating jobs and supporting businesses from Belfast to Bradford. Vitally, they have also allowed creativity to flourish and our world class filmmaking talent to shine with productions from Trainspotting and Lady Macbeth through to Wonder Woman and Game of Thrones.”
Since the introduction of the various tax relief programmes over the past five year, more than 2,070 films, 295 videogames and 205 high-end TV productions have benefited.