“We need more control over our destiny”: Can Scotland become a ‘global hub’ for film and TV by 2030?

Thanks to an ambitious strategy published earlier this year, Screen Scotland has set the stage for Scotland to become a ‘centre of global production’ by 2030.

But with a number of industry issues from squeezed budgets to thousands of freelancers out of work, can Scotland really rise to this starring role in the next six years?

“Scotland is having a bit of a moment right now but there’s no need for us to rest on our laurels,” Mike Ellen, founder of Glasgow-based indie production company Freedom Scripted, tells Prolific North. “We need to just make sure we build something sustainable.”

According to Screen Scotland, its most recent figures for 2021 revealed the screen sector in Scotland contributed an impressive £627.1m to the country’s economy.

Now, the focus is on galvanising plans to further develop Scotland as a centre of global production and a nation with its own ‘vibrant, confident’ film and screen culture, plus an economic growth target of £1bn GVA by 2030/31.

Screen Scotland’s six-year plan includes offering targeted support for productions, backing emerging talent through increased investment in skills and training, fostering a diverse film exhibition sector, and offering support for infrastructure.

And with its rolling lowlands, rugged peaks to historic cobbled streets, Scotland is clearly a much desired filming location used by the likes of Netflix’s One Day to Outlander. But for Screen Scotland to hit its goal by 2030, there’s “still a lot of work to do”.

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