The UK and France have signed a new agreement to strengthen cooperation in film and high-end TV production. With studios like The Yard VFX operating across both countries, the deal highlights the growing potential of cross-border collaboration in the global screen industry.
A New Chapter for UK–France Screen Cooperation
On July 9th, Film France – CNC and the British Film Institute (BFI) with the British Film Commission (BFC) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at BFI Southbank in London, with the aim of recognising and enhancing the collaboration between the UK and French screen industries, as well as incentivising and promoting inward investment film and high-end TV production across the two territories. The signing, witnessed by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, UK Minister for Creative Industries Sir Chris Bryant, CNC President Gaëtan Bruel, and BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts, marks a significant move toward deeper cooperation between the UK and French screen industries.
Inward investment film and High-end TV (HETV) production in both the UK and France continues to thrive, representing a key area of strategic development. At the heart of this initiative are tangible examples of synergy between French visual effects expertise and UK production infrastructure. Recent film and HETV productions that filmed or carried out VFX and post production work in both territories include Damsel (Netflix) and The Lord of The Rings : The Rings of Power – Season 2 (Amazon MGM Studios) shot in the UK, with both French and UK studios working on VFX and post, such as The Yard. These collaborations embody the spirit of the MoU—streamlining workflows, leveraging local expertise, and fostering globally competitive storytelling.
Strategic Goals: Cultural Exchange, Economic Growth, and Industry Innovation
This MoU builds on ongoing initiatives, including the Marché du Film panel earlier this year titled Crossing Channels: Production and VFX in the UK and France. The panel, jointly hosted by BFC and Film France – CNC, featured The Yard as a leading case study, underlining how shared creative infrastructure is already delivering results.
The agreement also coincides with a broader Moving Image Co-operation Agreement signed between the BFI and CNC, aiming to deepen collaboration across public policy, education, heritage, audience development, and co-production. Key initiatives include:
- Employee exchanges between BFI and CNC
- Shared efforts in film education, particularly targeting young audiences
- Restoration and preservation projects for cultural heritage
- Boosting audience access to French and British films via national platforms, festivals, and cinemas
Signed during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK, this partnership between the CNC and the British Film Commission is more than symbolic. It reflects a forward-looking commitment to strengthening cultural and economic ties in a globalized industry. As CNC President Gaëtan Bruel aptly stated, “We can do more, and we will do more.” With studios like The Yard VFX already demonstrating the power of cross-border collaboration, the MoU lays essential groundwork for a more connected, competitive, and resilient European screen industry—one that turns shared vision into visible results.
Read more in the related article published by Advanced Television here.