FOUK

Remit and Purpose

Established in August 2013, Film Offices UK acts as a forum in which qualifying independent Film Offices across the UK can share information, best practice, and evaluate current industry trends.

Definition

A Film Office is a not-for-profit service wholly or partly funded by local and/or combined authorities with a dedicated member of staff resourced to support film and TV production of all types proactively and reactively without prejudice.

They provide a single point of contact with industry knowledge, building a network within the authority and the local area, and troubleshoot where necessary.

Membership Fee

There is currently no annual membership fee.

Administration

The FO:UK Chair is elected annually in December. They manage all central administration, communication, and financial tasks for the forum, as well as act as the central contact for inquiries and Production Guild membership.

Meetings

− Meetings will be held quarterly online– members of the group must attend at least one meeting per year.
− When meetings are held in person, the Chair will ensure these are convened in an easily accessible location, ideally at a time that ensures everyone can travel off peak.
− Prior to a meeting, the Chair will determine whether there are enough members planning to attend in order to proceed.
− The Chair shall be responsible for setting out and distributing agendas.
− The Chair shall be responsible for chairing and recording meetings.
− After each meeting, the Chair shall distribute a summary of the meeting and any action points.

The Production Guild Membership (PGM)

Film Offices: UK holds an affiliate membership with The Production Guild.

Members of FO:UK may take advantage of this and contribute to this membership.

− The cost for affiliate membership will be split equally between participating FO:UK members.
− The Chair will administer membership – submitting or renewing the application, collecting membership fees from participants, and then paying for the membership in full.
− Affiliate membership gives FO:UK four user accounts and entitles up to four FO:UK delegates to attend any one PG member event.
− All participating FO:UK members can be listed on the affiliate page of the website and promote themselves as a PG affiliate.
− PGM runs alongside the financial year. Therefore, any film office wanting to join must do so at the start of the year.

Other relevant events

Film Offices UK is not limited to meetings and joint PGM and can explore other, mutually beneficial joint ventures, such as event attendance at the Focus Show.

The lead office is currently the Kent Film Office.

For more information about the Film Offices: UK group, please contact Kent Film Office on 03000 422 000 or email filmoffice@kent.gov.uk or download the FO:UK Application Form.

The Film Offices: UK group consists of the following offices which facilitate filming in their local areas:

FO:UK is proud to be an affiliated member of the Production Guild

You can follow the Film Offices: UK group on Twitter and the current FO:UK terms of reference can be found here.

Bath Film Office

The Bath Film Office covers the World Heritage city of Bath plus the old mining towns and picturesque villages of north east Somerset. We promote, manage and provide advice on filming on behalf of Bath and North East Somerset Council. We support student and commercial shoots of all sizes. Period filming a speciality.

Bradford Film Office

Bradford. Based in the world’s first UNESCO City of Film we provide a FREE service which will allow you to find the perfect location, advice on crew, assistance with permissions, how to approach parking and traffic control. We are located at the University of Bradford. Having close connections with the local council, businesses and property owners we can guarantee to support all your needs to ensure productions run smoothly. For any filming taking place within the Bradford district it is important to us that we are aware of your intentions so that we can assist and continue with our reputation as being a film friendly city.

Bristol Film Office

Bristol Film Office is a free service to all productions planning to film in the city, dedicated to making your film, television or commercial photography shoot run as smoothly as possible when on location in Bristol. We are a division of Bristol City Council and the one-stop-shop for all filming enquiries. We can assist at all stages of production, from initial location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support.

Cardiff Film Unit

Cardiff Film Unit (CFU) is the film office for the capital city of Wales, a division of Cardiff Council, marketing the city as a prime filming location and providing high-grade location and production services to production companies, broadcasters and independent film-makers, from initial location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support.

Film Birmingham

Film Birmingham is the film office for Birmingham run through Birmingham City Council. We are responsible for facilitating, supporting and developing the film & television industry in the city.

Film Edinburgh

Film Edinburgh is the film commission for Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders, facilitating filmmakers looking for locations, crew and facilities and promoting a film-friendly environment for filmmakers in south east Scotland.

Film: New Forest

Film:New Forest has been created as an economic development initiative by New Forest District Council (NFDC). Working in conjunction with key organisations, our aim is to boost the New Forest’s reputation as a film and TV filming location. We have a can do attitude and our completely free film-friendly service offers you a one-stop shop for:

– New Forest-based locations

– Access to skilled local crew

– Permits to film

– Parking and traffic control assistance

– Permission for filming on council-owned property

Film Torbay

Film Torbay is a local authority film office, covering the English Riviera and our unique UNESCO Global Geopark. We provide advice and guidance on finding that perfect location. You will have a dedicated point of contact for all your film enquiries, acting as a liaison across the local authority, and with our partners. Our film friendly service is here to help make your production as simple as possible.

Filmwight

Filmwight is operated with the endorsement of Isle of Wight Council, with assistance from Arts Council England, Solent LEP and our Island businesses. Our team is experienced, pragmatic and dedicated to making the Island a place where film, TV and photographic projects take place easily and efficiently.

Created by Venture South, the Isle of Wight Cultural Investment Company, we are part of the Island’s growing creative sector, connected to mainland organisations and part of a strategic plan to promote the Island as a space to create. We are committed to our sustainable future and proud that the Island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of only seven in the UK.

Glasgow Film Office

Glasgow Film Office (GFO) is the film commission for Scotland’s largest city, offering a free service to all productions including feature films, television, commercials, music videos and more. GFO markets Glasgow as a premier UK centre for film and TV production and helps to facilitate location filming in the city, provide all the information a production needs – from location and crewing advice to recces and logistical support. GFO’s goal is to ensure a flourishing industry that benefits the entire city.

Kent film office

Kent Film Office is a Kent County Council initiative which is the premier film commission for the county of Kent and provides a location finding, film permitting and liaison service for all manner of productions. The Kent (Filming on Highways) Act 2010 also allows us to easily close roads or use traffic management for filming purposes.

Liverpool Film Office

Liverpool Film Office is the first and oldest Film Office in the UK we are a department of Liverpool City Council that is responsible for facilitating television and film production in Liverpool and Merseyside.

North East screen

North East Screen are the creative industry development agency for the north east. We work to promote the region to film and TV production companies. We have databases of locations, crew and facilities available to visiting production. All of our local authorities have signed up to our filming friendly charter – committing to understand and work with production wherever possible.

screen cornwall

Screen Cornwall‘s vision is to be the most vibrant, rurally dispersed content production region, underpinned by world-leading sustainable practice. To achieve this, we focus on talent, infrastructure, cultural distinctiveness and innovation to ensure that Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly is a welcoming and inspiring place to create work both for incoming production and home-grown productions, and a great place to build a screen business.

screen manchester

Screen Manchester is the Film Office for Manchester City Council and delivers a comprehensive support service for all types of production seeking permission to film on location within Manchester. Our experienced team have worked on a range of high end TV, feature film and commercial productions and will provide a detailed service.

screen yorkshire

Screen Yorkshire. Yorkshire Film Office and Production Liaison Service provides comprehensive expertise on all aspects of filming in Yorkshire & Humber with a dedicated team on hand on to advise on locations, crews & facilities, studios & production bases and filming permissions. The Yorkshire & Humber online location database features an extensive range of locations for any film or television production – from rugged landscapes to period properties, industrial heritage to sleek contemporary architecture.

surrey film office

Surrey Film Office has been created as an economic growth initiative by Surrey County Council. Working in conjunction with Surrey’s District and Borough Councils and key organisations, our aim is to promote Surrey as a first class filming location. We can source film locations, provide essential contacts and issue permits to film on the public highway.

taycreen + fifescreen

TayScreen + FifeScreen is the screen commission for Fife and Tayside in Scotland serving Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire. We provide a free service to help projects across all kinds of media to source film locations, services and crew and work across the region to ensure a film-crew friendly reception.

Thurrock Film Office

Thurrock Film Office was established in 2018 as part of the need for Thurrock Council to establish a proactive and consistent offer for those wishing to film in the borough. Thurrock Film Office is a free to use service for all production companies who will coordinate all responses, across all council services thus acting as one point of contact for all filming enquires.