UK to exit Creative Europe

The UK government has confirmed it will not be seeking to participate in the next Creative Europe Media programme, due to start in January 2021, following Brexit.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement for the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), the UK will continue to participate in the current Creative Europe programme until it ends in December 2020.

UK companies and organisations are able to apply for funding up until this point, with successful applications receiving funding as normal, even where their funded activity is set to take place after December 2020, Creative Europe Desk UK has said.

This also means that until December 31, 2020, UK films will continue to be eligible for support in Creative Europe Media schemes.

There are eight funding deadlines open to UK applicants under the current Creative Europe Media sub-programme, including TV programming, the deadline for which is May 14 2020.

Since its launch in 2014 and until 2018, Creative Europe had awarded €89.5m (US$99.6m) to 376 UK-based cultural and creative organisations and audiovisual companies, and helped distribute 190 UK films in other European countries.

UK TV producers received a chunk of this funding, putting it towards content including high-end drama and animated series.

Participation in Creative Europe is not restricted to EU member states, with numerous non-EU countries currently having either partial or full participation.

Bodies such as the British Film Institute (BFI) have said they will be talking to the UK government “urgently” about the need to provide swift replacement funding to support the country’s screen industries and sustain a close working relationship with Europe in the future.

Ben Roberts, chief executive of the BFI, said: “Whilst this is not the outcome our industry was hoping for, there is a clear economic case for continuing to support UK independent film internationally across the ecosystem.

“We are working with government to determine the best way to ensure we remain one of the world’s leading screen industries.”

Creative Europe Desk UK added that it can provide guidance on applications for the calls that are currently open as part of its usual advice. It is also updating the advice on its website with any news relating to the negotiations.

More information on the impact of Brexit on the screen industries can be found in the Q&A on the BFI website.