British Film Commission and Netherlands Film Commission sign memorandum of understanding

The British Film Commission (BFC) and the Netherlands Film Commission (NFC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dutch Embassy in London, with the aim of enhancing the collaboration between the UK and Netherlands screen industries, as well as incentivising inward investment film and high-end TV production in the two territories. 

The partnership agreement was signed today as part of a Netherlands-UK Familiarisation Trip for producers from both countries. Attendees include representatives of the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Film Commission and a group of (line) producers from the Netherlands. 

Film and High-end TV production in both the UK and the Netherlands continues to thrive. In the UK, the inward investment spend generated by film and high-end television (HETV) production during 2023 reached £3.11 billion, while the Netherlands Film Fund’s incentive scheme has generated over €783 million in production spending from its launch in 2014 through 2023. 

High-profile film and high-end TV productions filmed across both territories include: Killing Eve (BBC America), The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Millennium), Dunkirk (Warner Bros), The Couple Next Door (Sony/Starz), and Baptiste (All3Media/BBC/Two Brothers). 

Today’s MoU between the BFC and NFC strengthens ties between UK and Netherlands screen industries. Both film commissions aim to foster a seamless, film-friendly service for inward investment film and high-end TV productions working across both territories. By working closely together to support productions, BFC and NFC seek to encourage greater cultural, creative and economic exchange between both countries.  

The agreement was signed today, 9 December, at the Dutch Embassy in London, at a signing ceremony attended by the Netherlands Film Commissioner Roeland Oude Nijhuis and Netherlands Film Fund CEO Sandra den Hamer. 

Roeland Oude Nijhuis, Netherlands Film Commissioner, said: “The MoU we’re signing today formalises something we’ve always known: creativity thrives when we work together. It aims to remove barriers and help filmmakers, producers and other industry professionals from both countries to partner up and create stories that matter. We’ve already seen great projects come to life: films like Occupied City and Silver Haze demonstrate the impact of combining Dutch and British visions in storytelling. Looking ahead, we hope this MoU ensures that these successes are just the beginning. We’re here today to open the door to more partnerships, bigger projects and even greater stories that resonate with audiences around the world.”

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our relationship with the Netherlands Film Commission with today’s partnership agreement. Major productions such as The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk have filmed in both countries, and we are committed to building on our successful work with our friends in the Netherlands to forge an even stronger relationship between our two screen industries. As we work closer together with the NFC to create a frictionless service for cross-territory productions, both nations are primed to harness the potential of inward investment film and high-end TV production.”