British Film Commission and FILM in AUSTRIA sign Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening ties between UK and Austrian screen industries
Sunday February 19 2023
Today (Berlin, 19 February), the British Film Commission (BFC) and FILM in AUSTRIA, the National Film Commission for Austria, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the aim of enhancing the collaboration between the UK and Austrian screen industries, as well as facilitating film and high-end TV production between the two territories.
The UK and the Austrian screen industries are thriving. New film and TV production incentives were introduced in Austria last month, including Europe’s first Green bonus, while official film and high-end TV production statistics released this month demonstrate the strength of the UK’s screen sectors, with inward investment production spend reaching a record figure of £5.37 billion in 2022.
High-profile film and high-end TV productions filmed across both jurisdictions include The Witcher (Netflix), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Paramount), Spectre (Eon/MGM) and Quantum of Solace (Eon/MGM).
Through today’s MoU, the BFC and FILM in AUSTRIA seek to encourage greater cultural, commercial and creative exchange between the UK and Austria whilst actively working together to foster opportunities to support inward investment film and high-end TV production in both countries. This agreement also highlights the film commissions’ commitment to facilitating a frictionless and film-friendly service which supports productions working in both territories.
The agreement was signed today, 19 February, at the AUSTRIAN Film Hub at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
Arie Bohrer, National Film Commissioner, stated: The British film industry was and is a worldwide example of professionalism. I remember in the past, when US productions came to Austria – a large number of the crew were from the UK. Generations of Austrian filmmakers gained a lot of experience through the cooperation with the British crew. We hope that the new Austrian incentive will not only raise the number of big productions shooting in Austria but also create opportunities for future co-productions between Austria and the UK.”
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, said: “It is an extremely exciting time for the global film and high-end TV industry. The UK continues to experience remarkable growth in production, generating billions of pounds for the UK economy and thousands of new jobs. Providing these opportunities for growth remains vital to the continued success of the industry globally. We are delighted to be building on our relationship with FILM in AUSTRIA through this new friendship agreement, having previously supported a number of titles filming in both territories from The Witcher to Spectre. We are committed to continuing our positive and fruitful work with our Austrian friends, forging even stronger relationships between our two countries to ensure a frictionless and film-friendly service for productions.”
Today’s MOU builds on the positive impact such collaboration is having internationally, with partnership agreements already in place between the British Film Commission and Spain, Italy and Norway.