Department for Culture Media and Sport
co-production agreements
.Where creative control of a film is shared between British and international partners, with a mix of British and international film production, a film could be called a co-production.
Co-productions can be beneficial to filmmakers because they often qualify for benefits, such as tax relief, in both the UK and the partner country. However to do so, films must comply with the relevant “co-production agreement”.
The UK Film Council advises applicants and DCMS on the granting of co-production status in the UK. Foreign co-producers apply to the relevant "competent authority" in the partner country.
Where should I send my application?
30 September 2007 cut-off for S.48 & S.42 film tax relief
30 September 2007 was the cut-off in the Finance Act 2006 for acquiring a film that completed before 1 January 2007 (and began filming before April 2006) and claiming S.48 relief for any acquisition expenditure incurred by then: see further information on our tax relief page.
It was also the cut-off in the Finance Act 2006 for acquiring a film entirely made between April and December 2006 and claiming S.42 relief for any acquisition expenditure incurred by then. For these purposes, the co-production application form and guidelines are available on request from thalia.baldwin@culture.gsi.gov.uk
Check the changes to the system for 2006 and 2007
For your film, it is important to know which office to apply to for a certificate, which tax reliefs apply and the cut-off dates for the film old tax reliefs. These can all be checked in the chart Transitional arrangements co-production films PDF (11kb)
The address for sending completed applications to DCMS is:
Film Certification Officer
Creative Industries Division
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
More information about co-production
A co-production application is a two stage application process:
- A provisional application must be made at least four weeks before principal photography commences
- The final application must be made after the production process is complete.
The treaties and details of the partner countries, and application forms and guidance notes for applying for co-production status (pertaining to the new film tax relief) are available on the UK Film Council's website.
Foreign co-producers applying for co-production status abroad will need to contact the relevant “competent authority” in that country:
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Co-production Agreements in Force
The UK has signed up to bi-lateral agreements with Australia, Canada, France, India, Jamaica, New Zealand and South Africa.
The UK has also signed up to the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.
For a copy of the agreements, please see the section below.
Texts of the Treaties
Applicants should also check the latest co-production news below.
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Latest news on co-production treaties
The UK/India Film Co-production Treaty is now in force.
Both parties declared their constitutional procedures as complete on 16 October 2008.
Notes
The UK/India Film Co-production Treaty has been signed in New Delhi on Monday 12 May 2008.
Both parties are now working to complete their constitutional procedures this summer, and we aim to have the treaty will be in force before the end of the year.
Further details about the signing can be found in the recent Press Release.
Last updated October 2008
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