The Government’s announcement of the new tax credit to help support the UK’s indie film sector for films of up to £15m is very welcome news.  There are world-class independent British feature films being made in the £1m – 15m budget range and enabling these films to be kept on British soil is essential to the longevity and success of the screen industry in the UK.  This is also where so many of the talented teams working on big budget productions learned their craft, which is vital to continue to future proof our industry and invest in the next generation of talent. 

AMPS represents a great number of highly experienced and talented people who will be helped from this significant move. With productions being able to benefit from the tax relief from as soon as April, this will create new jobs and opportunities across the country, which will come as a lifeline for many following a difficult year impacted by the shutdowns due to the WGA/SAG strikes.

With such a strong tradition of production and post-production sound craft in the UK we hope to see more projects in this crucial sector of the business getting made here entirely. Tax credits elsewhere in the world have seen too many films leave the UK to get made, and consequently many of our members have missed the opportunity to work on these productions. With the number of high-quality soundstages here and the world class homegrown talent pool we hope to see a lift in business here across the board.

The UK screen industry contributes billions to the UK economy and is one of Britian’s most revered exports.  Raising the tax relief has given the industry a vote of confidence, which will invigorate growth in the screen sector, ensuring there is a future where great stories made in Britain will continue to be told.

- Andrew Wilson, AMPS Chair