LONDON – The British Film Institute will be the certification body for the proposed tax credit system for animation, high-end TV and video games.
The British government has formally appointed the BFI to the job of putting an official stamp of approval on applicants from TV companies looking to take advantage of the tax credit systems announced in November last year.
The BFI’s Certification Unit is currently the first point of contact for applicants looking to qualify their movie as British and to access the U.K.’s film tax relief.
The unit also assesses whether applications qualify under the Cultural test, the U.K.’s co-production agreements, or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.
It means the BFI will now be responsible for the success or failure of applicants looking to secure creative content tax relief for animation, high-end TV and video games in addition to those working in movies.
In March 2012, the U.K. government said the tax credit for TV and video would help keep high-end TV shoots in Britain and “also attract top international investors like Disney and HBO to make more of their premium shows in the U.K.”
Such a credit would help stop British TV programs such Birdsong, starring Eddie Redmayne, Matthew Goode and Clemence Poesy and backed by NBCUniversal and Working Title TV, from shooting abroad.
The BFI’s Certification Unit has administered the certification process for film since 2007.
While the BFI Certification Unit’s process is an established and successful one, the BFI said it will consult with analysts and experts from each sector where necessary to ensure a smooth and accurate service.
The Certification Unit will ensure that its strategic partners across the U.K. are fully engaged as this work progresses.
