West of England launches £4.5M Greenlight West production fund
What's the deal? The West of England Combined Mayoral AuthorityDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has launched Greenlight WestDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a £4.5 million fund to boost film and television production in the region. Announced by West of England Mayor Helen Godwin at Bristol Old VicDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, it will hand out non-recoupable grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 to commercially viable screen projects.
Why now? The fund is the first investment from £25 million the authority secured through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s Creative Places Growth FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The region is one of six across the UK to unlock money from the government programme.
Who qualifies? Eligible applicants include incoming productions filming in the region, projects led by regionally based companies, and productions doing significant post-production work locally. Winners must show meaningful local impact through spending, employment, and skills development, and engage with talent development initiatives.
What's the endgame? The authority forecasts that Greenlight West investments will generate £20.7 million in regional production spending and support more than 230 jobs. It also aims to retain talent and post-production work that might otherwise leave the area.
“The West of England is already one of the most popular places in the UK to make TV and film,” Godwin said, pointing to the region's strengths in drama, natural history, animation, and factual production. She said the incentive should attract investment, create local jobs, and generate tourism through screen exposure.
The signal: Unlike many UK regional incentives, Greenlight West grants are non-recoupable — a signal that public authorities are willing to spend directly to compete for productions. As three-time BAFTA-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe put it, Bristol's talent, locations, and post-production facilities are assets she hopes will draw more shoots to the region.
Image credit: pavlinajane
