The economic value of Bristol’s film and TV production industry to the city is almost 50% higher than previously estimated – with latest estimates for the past year putting it at around £30m.
Bristol Film Office, which produces annual economic impact figures for the industry, has this year used a new, more accurate method introduced by sector group Creative England. 
This takes into account how production companies spend their budget in a location – showing that by attracting hit shows TV such as Rivals, The Outlaws and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Bristol is now one of the UK’s leading production centres.
During the 2023-24 financial year, 32 major productions were assisted by Bristol Film Office and/or the city’s Bottle Yard Studios – nine were feature films and 23 were high-end TV productions.
In total, 730 filming days were supported in the studio and on location – around 100 fewer than the previous year, although the number of licences issued by Bristol Film Office permitting filming to take place on council-owned streets, properties and green spaces rose from just over 500 last time to 582.
The report by Bristol Film Office, part of Bristol City Council, reveals that a growing number of venues, charities and businesses are working with it to be introduced to productions as potential filming locations. 
The report says being hired for filming helps these spaces create valuable new revenue streams, and in the longer term can lead to an increase in footfall after a TV show or film’s release.
Recent examples include Aerospace Bristol, which featured in Rivals, St Werburgh City Farm, where filming took place for series three of The Outlaws, pictured above, and The Georgian House, used as a location in Sanditon.
Titles active in pre-production or filming during the period at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location with Film Office assistance included upcoming romantic comedy The Road Trip (streaming from 26 December on Paramount+), upcoming feature film Bad Apples starring Saoirse Ronan, upcoming period drama adaptation The Forsyte Saga, pictured below (Masterpiece PBS), upcoming Agatha Christie adaptation The Seven Dials Mystery (Netflix), series four of detective drama McDonald & Dodds (ITVX), twisty thriller TrueLove (Channel 4) and teen comedy-drama Boarders (BBC Three). 
Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli’s BBC One comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable? and series five of CBBC’s Enid Blyton drama Malory Towers were also filmed at the studios and locations outside Bristol.
Additional titles filmed during the reporting period on location in Bristol with Film Office assistance included contemporary psychological thriller The Crow Girl, pictured below (Paramount+), feature film The Salt Path starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs and directed by Marianne Elliot and feature film Surviving Earth directed by Thea Gajić.
Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer said the latest figures demonstrated the vital role that Bristol Film Office, The Bottle Yard Studios and the city’s flourishing film and TV sector continued to play in supporting the local economy. 
“We know that since the pandemic some areas of the film industry have struggled. However, it’s fantastic to see that the latest television and film hits are attracted to and supported in Bristol,” he added.
“A huge congratulations to all those who contribute to making our local sector such a huge global hit. These figures truly demonstrate the value of their continued dedication and hard work.”
Bristol City Council Head of Film Laura Aviles added: “We are pleased to announce these impressive figures, our first to be calculated using Creative England’s improved methodology.
“Having access to the most up-to-date estimation of the annual economic impact of the productions we support is central to our ability to leverage investment and stimulate further growth for Bristol’s film industry.
“These new figures show that not only is the city’s film sector continuing to perform well, it is also worth more to Bristol’s economy than previously thought.
“The fact that filming supported by the Studio and Film Office generated an estimated £30m for Bristol’s economy in 2023-24, a strike year, is an incredible achievement. We know it has been tough for many freelancers working in different parts of the film and TV industry, particularly unscripted.
“But these figures underline how Bristol has continued to push forward its reputation as a trusted home for high-calibre scripted productions.
“By supporting filming, we are creating direct benefits for the local economy and with our studio hub, supportive Film Office and skilled crew and companies, we hope to continue that momentum in the year ahead.”
Creative England head of production services Hayley Armstrong said: “We’re thrilled to see Bristol making the most of the Local Economic Impact Toolkit – a first of its kind resource supporting the accurate measuring and reporting of local economic impacts to demonstrate the true value of the film and TV sector in local communities across England.
“The work that Bristol Film Office and The Bottle Yard Studios do is essential in ensuring Bristol continues to attract high-profile productions again and again, and we are proud that the updated Average Local Production Spend Rate Card has evidenced just how successful they have been this past year.
“We encourage all local authorities to embrace the Toolkit, enabling them to effectively measure and communicate the sector’s benefits, and unlock the full potential of what Film and TV can bring to their communities.”
