The UK Film and TV sector continues to show significant growth. The combined spend by film and high-end television production (HETV) during 2022 reached £6.27 billion, the highest ever reported. As the county’s designated Film Office, Norfolk Screen will proactively market Norfolk’s assets as film-friendly, attractive, and diverse. It will promote the county as a unique destination of choice for domestic and international screen production – providing a front door for all filming enquiries.  As a voluntary service over the last 3 years, Norfolk Screen has already supported a number of notable productions including Spencer, The Chemistry of Death (Paramount+), Disney’s The Shepherd (Disney+) and Mary and George (Sky Atlantic).

Claire Chapman (Managing Director), Craig Higgins (Development Director) and Evie Calaby (Production Liaison Manager) will continue to provide a sign-posting service for productions.  They’ll work alongside all existing partners- locations, crew and services -to strengthen the regional screen sector infrastructure.  Norfolk Screen will also partner with education providers to support the next generation of screen content makers and storytellers in Norfolk.

Claire said, “We are delighted to partner with Norfolk County Council and the local authorities and other stakeholders to harness this growth.  We’ll work together to put Norfolk on the filmmakers’ map, and to help ensure that productions think about Norfolk when it comes to filming in the UK. The more productions we can support locally and from outside the region, the more we can help boost the local economy and create new jobs. “

Norfolk Screen’s Advisory Board Chair Graham Creelman says, “This is fantastic news for Norfolk. We know the county is full of talented and ambitious creative people. And we know that we have some of the most intriguing and stunning locations.  But for years we’ve desperately needed a support organisation that can help bring both of these wonderful things together.  Now, in Norfolk Screen, we’ve got just that.”

Hayley Armstrong, Head of Production Services at Filming in England commented “Norfolk Screen have been a long-standing and trusted member of the Filming in England Partnership, joining very soon after its launch in October 2020.  They have consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment, sharing valuable intel via the Partnership and connecting Norfolk with the national film landscape which perfectly aligns with our mission to promote film-friendliness and facilitate further filming across the diverse English regions.”

The two-year pilot project comes at a pivotal time for the region as the screen industries, as it is expected that inward investment will continue to grow.  Therefore, this dedicated support will enable Norfolk County Council and partners to understand what can be achieved from a small but dedicated investment of finance and local authority support into an integrated film office, which will work closely with all Norfolk’s public sector-agencies, as well as the private screen sector and associated bodies.

The pilot programme will provide an evidence base for a permanent Film Office’s ability to deliver growth in location filming activity in Norfolk. It will also lead to greater understanding of the income benefit to Norfolk’s local authorities and to the wider SME population. We anticipate the Film Office will support the creation of a dynamic and growing screen sector cluster within Norfolk.

Fabian Eagle, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for economic growth, said: “Norfolk is a beautiful county with many exceptional locations that film crews could use for filming from TV adverts to documentaries and films. Numerous production companies have already featured our county in their footage over the years. If we can maximise on our natural and built resources with a county-wide Film Office that makes it easier for production companies to find suitable locations, we simultaneously achieve economic benefit for many other ancillary businesses whenever a production team comes to the county. Norfolk Screen’s expertise and understanding of the film and TV industry positions them exceptionally well to ensure communities across Norfolk benefit from the jobs, economic impact, and enhanced profile that the county’s Film Office can generate. Norfolk County Council was very impressed with Norfolk Screen’s application and approach to the Film Office Pilot and look forward to us working together over the next two years.”

Finally, we would like to say to any incoming productions who are looking for the next destination to film, to come and explore the film friendly region of Norfolk as we are keen to be part of your filmmaking journey.

For more information about Norfolk Screen please visit www.norfolkscreen.co.uk