Potter films boost UK film spending
Monday, 15 Jan 2007 09:53
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has bolstered the UK's film industry
Two Potters helped to give the UK film industry a massive boost last year; spending on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Miss Potter contributed to a 48 per cent increase in money spent on making films in the UK.
A total of 134 films resulted in the £840.1 million shelled out in 2006, including The Golden Age, Atonement and His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass.
In 2005 this amount was £568.8 million. Inward investment (films with finance from overseas but made mainly or significantly in the UK) rose by over 80 per cent to £569.6 million from £312 million in 2005.
Film minister Shaun Woodward described 2006 as "one of [the] best years ever" for the UK's film industry.
"These figures show that the UK is a great place to make a film," he added.
John Woodward, chief executive officer of the UK Film Council, said: "We are back in business with British filmmakers winning international awards, a crop of great British films produced, British talent and facilities in demand from filmmakers around the world, and the new tax credit which came into force this year will ensure that the UK stays one of the best places in the world to produce a film."