BLOG: A Transformative moment for our filmmakers

Head of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders, reacts to the news that the UK’s indie film sector finally has something to celebrate, following the announcement of the eagerly anticipated Independent Film Tax Credit.

The Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC) has finally been confirmed by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Culture secretary Lisa Nandy.

The Tax Credit will encourage more production in the UK, as filmmakers will soon be able to claim back 53% of qualifying expenditure on items such as equipment, location costs and actor fees.  Feature films costing up to £15m will be eligible for the tax relief, but must have a UK writer, or director, to certify as an official UK co-production.

Whilst it will provide a major boost to the UK creative economy and create jobs, more importantly it provides a lifeline to indie film producers and filmmakers who have increasingly struggled to finance films and get them into production in the UK. 

UK indie production has been in crisis for some time: soaring costs, cuts in funding and market disruption have threatened its very survival.  Ask any Liverpool based producer and filmmaker and they will tell you exactly that.

But why is it so important to safeguard the indie film sector? Independent films are driven by artistic vision and are more likely to tell stories about human experience.  Their stories dig deep down inside of us and make you feel emotions that big-budget blockbusters just scratch the surface of.

They teach us, as well as entertain us. They make you take a second look at what’s going on in the world.  They also attract all types of people to get involved in film making. It doesn’t matter what social class, race or gender you are. The indies nurture new writers, directors and producers to develop their craft so they can tell stories that we want to see and hear.   

Together with my brilliant team at the Liverpool Film Office, we’ve been working tirelessly over the years to develop a world class production hub in our City and across the Liverpool City Region, with strategic capital initiatives such as the LCR Production Fund, The Depot and the rapidly developing Littlewoods Studio Campus, to drive economic growth and employment.  More recently this has included BFI grant funding to develop skills and opportunities for new entrants.

However, the development of the film and TV sector in our region must be hand in glove with our indigenous filmmaking community with support available to a new generation of writers, directors and producers to tell their unique stories.  With ever decreasing public finances, particularly the vacuum left to support indie filmmakers following the demise of the UK Film Council and the Regional Screen Agencies over a decade ago, this has been very difficult to do. 

I sincerely hope that the new IFTC will spark a flurry of emails and meetings with local producers who have been lobbying for this important tax credit to be passed.  Yup, I can hear my phone ringing now…

Learn more about Liverpool Film Office by heading to the official website.