British Film Commission and Netherlands Film Commission sign Memorandum of Understanding, boosting collaboration between UK and Dutch screen industries
Today (London, 9 December), the British Film Commission (BFC) and the Netherlands Film Commission (NFC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dutch Embassy in London, with the aim of enhancing the collaboration between the UK and Netherlands screen industries, as well as incentivising inward investment film and high-end TV production in the two territories.
The partnership agreement was signed today as part of a Netherlands-UK Familiarisation Trip for producers from both countries. Attendees include representatives of the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Commission and a group of (line) producers from the Netherlands.
Film and High-end TV production in both the UK and the Netherlands continues to thrive. In the UK, the inward investment spend generated by film and high-end television (HETV) production during 2023 reached £3.11 billion, while the Netherlands Film Fund’s incentive scheme has generated over €783 million in production spending from its launch in 2014 through 2023.
High-profile film and high-end TV productions filmed across both territories include: Killing Eve (BBC America), The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Millennium), Dunkirk (Warner Bros), The Couple Next Door (Sony/Starz), and Baptiste (All3Media/BBC/Two Brothers).
Today’s MoU between the BFC and NFC strengthens ties between UK and Netherlands screen industries. Both film commissions aim to foster a seamless, film-friendly service for inward investment film and high-end TV productions working across both territories. By working closely together to support productions, BFC and NFC seek to encourage greater cultural, creative and economic exchange between both countries.
The agreement was signed today, 9 December, at the Dutch Embassy in London, at a signing ceremony attended by the Netherlands Film Commissioner Roeland Oude Nijhuis and Netherlands Film Fund CEO Sandra den Hamer.
Roeland Oude Nijhuis, Netherlands Film Commissioner, said:
‘The MoU we’re signing today formalises something we’ve always known: creativity thrives when we work together. It aims to remove barriers and help filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals from both countries to partner up and create stories that matter. We’ve already seen great projects come to life: films like Occupied City and Silver Haze demonstrate the impact of combining Dutch and British visions in storytelling. Looking ahead, we hope this MoU ensures that these successes are just the beginning. We’re here today to open the door to more partnerships, bigger projects and even greater stories that resonate with audiences around the world.’
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, said:
“We are delighted to be strengthening our relationship with the Netherlands Film Commission with today’s partnership agreement. Major productions such as The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk have filmed in both countries, and we are committed to building on our successful work with our friends in the Netherlands to forge an even stronger relationship between our two screen industries. As we work closer together with the NFC to create a frictionless service for cross-territory productions, both nations are primed to harness the potential of inward investment film and high-end TV production.”
The MOU also highlights the film commissions’ commitment to fostering opportunities presented by screen tourism as a result of high-profile productions working across both territories. Having signed an MOU with UK tourism body, Visit Britain, last year, the BFC will continue to work with its’ European partner film commissions to capitalise on the economic and cultural opportunities underpinned by screen tourism.
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, Austria and Norway.
NFC and BFC will present a panel discussion at this year’s FOCUS London moderated by BFC Chief Executive Adrian Wootton OBE. Dutch producer Floor Onrust (Occupied City, Midwinter Break), UK co-producer Reece Cargan (Midwinter Break, Where Dragons Live) and Anna Tenser Smith, executive producer on Sir Steve McQueen’s new feature film Blitz, and producer on Occupied City, will discuss the creative, cultural and economic benefits of Netherlands and UK partnerships and the significance of today’s MOU signing. Find out more at this link.
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For further press information about the British Film Commission, please contact:
Haylie Read, Head of PR & Marketing, British Film Commission
E: haylie.read@britishfilmcommission.org.uk
M: +44 (0)7787 254 250
For further press information about the Netherland Film Commission, please contact:
Marieke van Zalk, Head of Communications, Netherlands Film Fund
M: +31 (0)6 21 45 46 89
Notes to Editors:
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 Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Business 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: Angels Costumes, Bray Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, Harbottle & Lewis, HBO, Movie Makers, Netflix, Pinewood Studios, Saffery, Warner Bros., 3 Mills Studios, BBC Studio Works, DNEG, Elstree Studios, First Stage Studios, Framestore, MPC, The Bottle Yard Studios and Working Title.
The BFC is the national division of Film London.
www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk
Twitter: @FilmInUK_BFC
LinkedIn: British Film Commission
About the Netherlands Film Commission
As a division of the Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Commission is the national liaison between the Dutch creative media industries, foreign producers and production companies in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Film Commission is the general resource for all film related inquiries such as locations, permits and Dutch incentive production companies. Our commissioner is your matchmaker and can advise on financing possibilities of the Film Fund, including the cash rebate.
What more does the Netherlands offer international producers and production companies?
- No-nonsense English speaking workforce
- Top notch equipment, studios and VFX & postproduction facilities
- Largest exterior fresh water stage in Europe
- No union limits
- A great variety of amazing locations
- Famous Dutch Light
- General support
Financial exploration support
International producers that have been in contact with the Netherlands Film Commissioner about a concrete plan and consider to shoot or postproduce in the Netherlands are in the position to apply for financial support for the research of their plan.
We offer support for location scouts, line producers and/or postproduction supervisors, including visits to Dutch based production companies, postproduction facilities, local transport and accommodation.
Info@filmcommission.nl