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DCMS Co-production Review
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 seven bilateral agreements (with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, 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.
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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).
The UK model agreement, drawn up in consultation with the UK Film Council and representatives from the UK Film industry, will form the basis of these negotiations. The UK Government feels this model better reflects the reality of modern day co-production, and aims to maximise the cultural and film making benefits to the UK and its partner countries. The Model can only offer a starting point for negotiations with partner countries and it is likely that the final content of each agreement will differ, the model agreement should therefore not be used as a basis for producing a film. Furthermore, the model will be adapted to ensure it complies, where appropriate, with the final terms of the new cultural test and the reform of the tax incentives.
Negotiations to secure this new package for co-production are progressing well. Tessa Jowell has already signed Statements of Intent to progress the negotiations with South Africa (PDF 786kb) and India (pdf 510kb), and we hope to have a number of the new agreements substantially negotiated by the end of the year. 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.
UK/India Bilateral co-production treaty - Signed Body of Text
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. For further information is available on this website.
For more information on the co-production review, please see, via the links below:
- The UK Model Agreement (pdf 74kb). IMPORTANT: Please note that the Model Agreement attached is not a finalised treaty and should therefore not be used as guidelines for producing films.
- A Regulatory Impact Assessment (pdf 447kb) on the UK's new co-production policy, as approved by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
- The UK Film Council 'Policy Paper' (pdf 68kb), which gives context to the UK's recent review of co-production and sets out the rationale for the proposed policy developments.
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