Why Isn't the Global Black Film Community Engaged with UK Tax Credits?

The UK’s new Independent Film Tax Credit is creating significant interest across the filmmaking world, more recently at the American Film Market (AFM) 2024 in Las Vegas. This revised tax credit rebate supports film production in the UK across the board, offering a powerful incentive with a 53% enhanced credit rate for eligible projects with budgets up to ￡15 million. This translates to a 40% net benefit—a compelling draw for filmmakers worldwide.

But it’s not just the tax credit that’s appealing. The UK has long been known for its exceptional talent, both in front of and behind the camera, along with its world-class film infrastructure, strong cultural ties to the global Black community, and close links to Hollywood, which considers the UK its second home. This new rebate regime is likely to attract inward investment to the UK, which is projected to exceed the record ￡2 billion set in 2022. Already, major streamers like Amazon and Netflix are expanding their UK production presence, joining established studios ready to make the most of these benefits. Some production companies and producers globally are adapting projects to meet UK guidelines, while others like XYZ Films, Alphas and Palisades Park Pictures, Eyes in the Trees have relocated to the UK to take advantage of these favourable conditions.

So, where are the Black production companies and producers from Africa, the United States, Canada, and beyond? Why aren’t we in the game?

Having shot ‘It’s the Blackness’ in the UK under the previous tax rebate system, which offered a 20% return on qualifying spend, we know firsthand how valuable these rebates are and how seamlessly they work. However, with the new tax credit system, a qualifying spend of ￡1 million guarantees a ￡400,000 rebate—a highly attractive proposition by any standard.

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The UK has solidified its place as a leading global destination for film production. As companies and producers worldwide explore the UK’s benefits, the British film sector anticipates a steady stream of international projects adapting to leverage this lucrative incentive. Yet, we are not seeing Black film production companies or producers taking advantage, and I am not sure why.

We have a large global primary target audience of 37.5 million people, according to research carried out by Talking Drum Entertainment, that we struggle to serve with films. Yet, Nollywood has stagnated, South Africa barely makes a dent on the global stage, and African American filmmakers don’t seem to be aware of or interested in exploring the opportunities, while Black Britain cannot get access to finance to enable them to participate meaningfully in their own film industry.

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Hollywood, the streamers, and the mainstream film industry are at the forefront, as usual, so let’s not be the ones who turn up late to the party—or miss it altogether—because we failed to recognise what’s on the table. This new tax credit gives the global Black film community a real chance to step into the UK’s thriving production landscape. Now is the time to connect, collaborate, and take advantage of the rebate to bring our exciting, fresh stories to a hungry international audience through the support that’s available.

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#UKFilmTaxCredit #BlackFilmmakers #GlobalFilmCommunity #IndependentFilm #FilmFundingOpportunities #DiversityInFilm #BlackFilmIndustry #StorytellingWorldwide #UKFilmIncentives #ItstheBlackness

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