TV and filmmaking facilities in Scotland are being offered an investment loan to the tune of £2 million, to assist in their continued development.
Details of the repayment terms are not made clear in the announcement that the Scottish Government will “provide a £2 million loan fund to support the long-term development of production infrastructure for commercial film and television in Scotland”, nor how the money might be spent.
But Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, is quoted, in a Scottish Government media release, as saying: “Scotland is already competing as a location on the international stage and demand from film and television companies continues to grow apace. Scotland’s unique scenery, heritage locations and excellent crews are already proving a strong draw for producers.
“At the beginning of September, four Scottish films – Sunshine on Leith, The Railway Man, Under the Skin and Starred Up – premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, all funded through Creative Scotland helping to cement Scotland’s reputation for both quality film-making and as a great location for shooting.
“I am delighted to announce that the Scottish Government will provide £2 million loan fund to support the long-term development of production infrastructure for commercial film and television in Scotland.
“This investment will also be utilised by the Film Studio Delivery Group – involving Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland – that I established in May to develop proposals for new film and TV production facilities in Scotland. We want to maximise the benefit of tax reliefs to Scotland and with this in mind, the delivery group is examining how film and television production facilities can be further developed.”
