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Co-Producing as a UK Company: What You Need to Know to Make It Work

For UK-based filmmakers and producers, co-production isn’t just a buzzword — it’s often the difference between a stalled script and a greenlit shoot. But knowing how and where to find the right partners, both at home and abroad, is what separates the daydream from the deal.

So if you’re developing a project and wondering whether co-production is worth it — or even possible — this article cuts through the fluff and gets straight to what works.

Start Close to Home

Not every international journey starts overseas. In fact, for early-career producers or low-to-mid budget projects (under £2–3 million), the smartest move may be to co-produce within the UK itself.

Co-productions between England and Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland are not only viable — they’re often simpler, faster, and come with regional support. If your story has ties to different UK nations, or if you’re open to spreading production across locations, this can unlock multiple pots of funding without international complexity.

Organisations like Screen Scotland, Ffilm Cymru Wales, and Northern Ireland Screen don’t just fund — they also facilitate partnerships between UK-based producers. Many projects get built this way without a single step abroad.

Similarly, Creative UK and BFI NETWORK work across England to support regional development and can introduce you to collaborators and initiatives across the country.

Going Global

Now let’s say your project has international appeal — multiple locations, bilingual dialogue, or talent based abroad. You might be aiming to access bigger funds, reach wider audiences, or qualify for dual tax incentives.

In this case, international co-production becomes a serious opportunity — but only if your project and team are ready.

To qualify for formal co-production support (including tax credits and national funds), your film must:

  • Have strong cultural links to both countries
  • Split production spend across territories
  • Share creative and financial control
  • Work under an official co-production treaty or the BFI Cultural Test

If that’s you — then finding the right partner is the next step. But not just any partner

Some of the top international co‑production markets:

These events offer curated meetings, not open. If your project is ready, you belong there.

Once you’re serious about international co-production, national film bodies are your most direct route to both funding and finding reliable partners. Many of them offer databases of certified producers, incentives for treaty-based co-productions, and dedicated departments for international collaboration:

  • Telefilm Canada – Known for supporting UK–Canada co-productions with strong cultural crossover. Their guidelines are clear, and they actively encourage treaty-based partnerships.
  • CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (France) – France is one of the UK’s most active treaty partners. CNC supports fiction, animation, and documentary projects and often leads on high-end co-productions.
  • Screen Ireland – Ireland is a natural partner due to language and proximity. Screen Ireland supports fiction and documentary features with UK co-producers regularly.
  • Film Fund Luxembourg – Offers co-financing for select international productions, especially those that base post-production or animation in Luxembourg.
  • New Zealand Film Commission – Supports a wide range of genres and is open to UK partnerships on projects with global appeal and Pacific-region storytelling.
  • Creative Europe Desks UK – While UK companies can no longer directly receive Creative Europe MEDIA funding post-Brexit, these desks still facilitate introductions to European partners and help UK producers connect with EU co-financing schemes.

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