BRISTOL COULD BECOME A 'SCREEN POWERHOUSE' SAYS REPORT

Bristol has the potential to become a 'screen powerhouse' according to a new report.

The Go West! 2 report, produced by The University of the West of England in Bristol, suggests the screen industry in Bristol, UNESCO City of Film, is booming, with turnover increasing by more than 100 per cent in the last five years, despite the pandemic.

But, say the report's authors, more could still be done to further boost its development and expansion.

The report builds on previous research by Professor Andrew Spicer and Dr Steve Presence from UWE Bristol’s Digital Cultures Research Centre.

Their latest research has found that the industry is experiencing very rapid growth, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and a historic lack of investment in the area from external sources.

By examining the evolution of the industry between 2016 and 2021, they found:

• Aggregate turnover increased 105 per cent, from nearly £148 million to £288 million

• The number of independent production companies increased from 131 to 189

• Full-time staff working in this sector are up from 2,200 to 2,760 – an increase of more than 25 per cent

• Freelance numbers are up from 1,500 to around 2,500

Professor Spicer said: “Bristol is home to the largest independent film and television production sector outside London, yet beyond the national beacons of the BBC’s Natural History Unity and Aardman Animations, Bristol’s film and television industries tend to be overlooked by those outside the sector."

Last month, ITV plc acquired a majority interest of 79.5 per cent in Bristolbased Plimsoll Productions, the largest independent producer of natural history programmes in the world, for a £103.5 million, valuing Plimsoll at £131 million. Founded in 2013, the Bafta, Emmy and Academy Award winning producer has produced hundreds of hours of content which is watched, and sold, in nearly 200 countries.