According to recent stats from the British Film Institute (BFI), spending on film and high-end television production in the UK reached £4.2bn in 2023. While this is great news at face value, Sarudzayi Marufu, founder and executive producer of Euras Films, argues that domestic film and TV producers are being neglected, representing only 11% of the total spend. Marufu believes that the return of private equity could help bring UK indie film back from the brink.
UK independent film producers have found themselves in the eye of a perfect storm. A spate of both long- and short-term squeezes have applied a severe amount of pressure. Now, filmmakers are pushing the panic button. They need to diversify their funding models as soon as possible. And one untapped resource is private equity (PE).
Filmmakers are proven innovators – but this acute funding crisis will push this skill to its absolute limit. They’re going to have to adapt to the world of business and approach the financiers. At the same time, it’s important that PE partners get over initial reservations about investing in films. They can help UK filmmakers and make a serious buck in doing so...
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