We’re proud to celebrate the new figures released by our partners the Bristol Film Office this week, which indicate that 2014-15 was another excellent year for film and TV production in Bristol, generating almost £17.5 million towards the city’s economy.

Some the best BBC dramas of last year were made in Bristol, including a number that based production at The Bottle Yard Studios, such as Poldark, Wolf Hall and Sherlock. Smaller, home-grown productions also made their home at the Studios, including BAFTA-winning ITV drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, upcoming MoliFilms comedy heist movie Golden Years and Channel 4 comedy The Mimic.

Bristol Film Office notes that in a year that saw Bristol cement its growing reputation as a hub for major drama production, The Bottle Yard Studios further boosted the city’s offering, leading it to attract fresh interest from Heads of Production on both sides of the Atlantic. Disney/ABC Studios’ musical comedy fairytale Galavant, which made its home at the Studios, was the first US broadcast TV pilot to be made in the UK following the introduction of the Government’s new high-end TV tax relief in 2013. It went on to film its first series at the Studios last summer.

George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol said: “I’m delighted to see Bristol’s growing success as a hub for TV and film production, which continues to deliver consistent levels of investment, fuelling a strong new era of film making in the city. Having not had a full-time drama based here for some time now, this is a particularly encouraging achievement.

“With an established production hub at The Bottle Yard Studios and a responsive support service from Bristol Film Office, we’ve developed a comprehensive film making infrastructure making Bristol a national location of choice. Amongst the many benefits generated are employment and skills development, raising Bristol’s profile across the world and vital investment in this city’s cultural and creative landscape.”

We’re delighted to have played our part in Bristol’s thriving film and TV industry last year, and look forward to another busy year ahead!

For the full story, visit the Bristol Film Office website and view the May 2015 news bulletin.