co-production news
International co-production agreements are vital tools in helping to stimulate the production of culturally vibrant films that might not otherwise be made, as well as providing a boost to the development of the UK film infrastructure, creative and technical expertise.
The UK is currently signed up to six bilateral agreements (with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and Norway and the European Convention on Co-production).
These Agreements enable and encourage the co-production of films between the UK and its partner countries by offering the opportunity for film producers meeting the requirements of the Agreement to qualify for a British film certificate. Qualification means producers might be eligible to apply for tax relief available to British Films.
Following a DCMS/UKFC review of the UK's existing agreements, on 28 February 2005, Tessa Jowell announced the UK's intention to: establish new co-production Agreements with China, India, Jamaica, Morocco and South Africa; renegotiate its existing agreements with Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand and terminate bi-lateral agreements with Norway, Germany and Italy at their next renewal date (co-productions with Germany and Italy will continue through the European Convention).
Information on this page will be updated as and when appropriate.
Italy
India
South Africa
Germany and Norway
Other countries
Statements of Intent
Temporary Imbalance Measures
Italy
The UK's co-production treaty with Italy was terminated on 2 May 2006. Films using this treaty will be unaffected if they both:
- Have already received provisional approval before this date but are completed after this date, and
- Meet the requirements to receive final approval as an official co-production
All future UK-Italy films applying for provisional approval after this date will be able to rely on the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production Cmd No 2495 Treaty Series No 14 (1994) ISBN 0101249527 (the website includes full text of the Convention, a list of the countries where the Convention is in force, and details of the competent authorities in those countries).
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India
On Monday 5 December, the main body of the Film Co Production Agreement between the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of India was signed by the Rt. Hon Tessa Jowell, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri P.R. Dasmunsi.
UK-India Signed Statement of Intent (PDF 401kb)
UK-India Signed main body of text (PDF 501kb)
It is important to understand that the main body of the treaty does not enable producers to begin making films under this agreement. Only after the detailed Annex - which will set out the rules for co-producers to follow - has been agreed, signed and ratified will the treaty come into force.
Treaty negotiations can be a lengthy process and so it is very difficult to predict how long it might take to finalise this agreement. What we can be sure of is that the full agreement (including the Annex with its rules for co-producers to follow) will not be ratified before April 2006. Guidelines will be produced in time for the new treaty coming into force.
South Africa
The Statement of Intent (PDF 786kb) was signed in February 2005. Tessa Jowell signed the treaty in 2006. However, the process of agreeing and ratifying an agreement, before it can come into force, can be lengthy; we would advise producers to revisit this website periodically to remain up to date with developments to ascertain when producers will be enabled to make films under this agreement.
Germany and Norway
The UK intends to end bilateral co-production treaties with both these countries by the following dates:
- Germany - 31 December 2006
- Norway - 24 May 2007
Other countries
Progess in China, Jamaica, Morocco, Australia, France and New Zealand is ongoing, and we will update the information here as details become available.
The UK has signed individual Statements of Intent with China, Morocco and India to pledge our will to work together on developing bi-lateral co-production agreements between our countries.
Statements of Intent
It is important to understand that these Statements of Intent do not enable producers to begin making films under this instrument. Only after the detailed Agreement and Annex - which will set out the rules for co-producers to follow - has been agreed, signed and ratified will the treaty come into force.
Temporary Imbalance Measures
DCMS identified a significant and ongoing imbalance in co-production relations under the following treaties-
UK/Canada
UK/France
UK/Italy
and under the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production in relation to -
Italy
Denmark
Iceland
These imbalance measures are no longer in place for applications starting principal photography on or after 1st April 2006 which will be assessed on the basis of the minimum financial and film-making contribution specified in the bilateral treaty or European Convention. See revised co-production guidelines - June 2006 for further details.
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