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Films "bring £19m to Glasgow economy"
1 March 2019, 12:11 | Updated: 1 March 2019, 12:15
Filming major productions including the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw brought just over £19 million to Glasgow's economy last year.
Since the Glasgow Film Office (GFO) was created in 1997 it has helped generate more than £320 million locally with last year's sum (£19.1
million) a 26% increase on 2017.
The GFO helps film, broadcast and advertising productions coming to Glasgow to meet council teams and other public bodies as well as
location owners.
It also ensures filming has little impact on the city, such as closing roads and implementing diversions as Idris Elba filmed scenes for the
Fast & Furious spin-off which is due for release this year.
Council depute leader David McDonald said: "These latest figures confirm Glasgow's status as a go-to destination for the film and broadcast
industry and both show its importance of filming to the city's economy.
"The work of the council's film office continues to bear fruit, and the latest figures underline the importance of not only attracting
productions but supporting local companies in the industry.
"Glasgow Film Office is in continuous discussion with production representatives and location managers, and as a result, more major films
and broadcast programmes and features can be expected to be coming to the city soon."
Other productions to have sought out Glasgow as a location include Netflix's Outlaw King, BBC programmes Still Game and Shetland, hit TV
series Outlander and movie sequel Trainspotting 2.
Claire Mundell, producer at Glasgow-based Synchronicity Films, hailed the importance of the GFO's help for another BBC series filmed in
Glasgow - The Cry.
She said: "The support we received from Glasgow Film Office - in return for a commitment to use Glasgow-based facilities companies - was
extremely important to the production of our BBC1 show The Cry.
"The Glasgow Film Office fund is easy to access and encourages local spend, incentivising Glasgow-based production companies like us at
Synchronicity to work with other local businesses, thereby growing the industry on the ground here together.
"We are very grateful for the support we have received on The Cry, and also the two films we brought to shoot in Glasgow over the last two
years - Only You and The Party's Just Beginning."
