– The new effort will support market-ready features and scripted and unscripted TV projects able to generate economic impact and strengthen the local screen ecosystem
Greater Manchester is launching a new £10.5 million (approximately €12.18 million) production fund aimed at attracting major film and TV projects to the city region, supporting local production companies and opening up new opportunities for homegrown talent.
The Greater Manchester Production Fund will back ambitious, market-ready feature films as well as scripted and unscripted television projects that can deliver tangible economic impact, help grow skills and further strengthen the area’s creative sector. It is open both to companies based in Greater Manchester and to productions from elsewhere, provided they make a meaningful contribution to the city region.
The initiative is being positioned as a key step in Greater Manchester’s ambition to become the UK’s leading screen-industry cluster outside London by 2028. The area’s creative industries already contribute more than £1.4 billion (€1.62 billion) to the local economy and support over 48,000 jobs.
“Greater Manchester already has a strong track record in film and television, with the talent, locations and crews to support world-class productions. This fund is about building on that strength by attracting more investment, creating more opportunities for local people and helping our creative sector grow,” said Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester portfolio lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth.
“We want to see more productions choosing Greater Manchester, more local companies scaling up, and more people able to build successful careers in the industry here,” she added. “And we want to see more of Greater Manchester on screen. This is a city region with huge creative energy and a distinct identity, and this fund will help ensure our stories, our places and our talent are seen by audiences nationally and internationally.”
The fund is expected to provide a further boost to a screen sector that has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to the region’s combination of locations, production infrastructure, crews, freelancers and established companies. It also aims to increase local production capacity, while ensuring that incoming shoots generate benefits for the wider creative economy.
Nicola Shindler, CEO and executive producer at Quay Street Productions, added: “The screen sector in Greater Manchester is full of incredible talent, experience, creativity and hardworking people. This fund is a real vote of confidence in the region and an important investment in its future. By supporting productions to come and grow here, it will help create opportunities for local freelancers, crew and businesses, while ensuring the industry remains strong and sustainable, and continues to thrive for years to come.”
Guidance and application details are available through the Production in Greater Manchester website.
