UK film industry struggles to recover after strikes

As the Oscars approach, the film industry is hoping to pretend everything is back to business as normal after the strikes of 2023. But research this week from Bectu (the Broadcasting Entertainment Communications and Theatre Union) shows that the UK industry has yet to recover. In September 2023 when US productions were shut down, 75 per cent of the UK workforce was out of work. In February, that number had only fallen to 68 per cent. And the long months without money are hitting Britain’s chances of rebuilding – almost 40 per cent of the workforce is planning to leave the industry within the next five years. There is already a skills shortage. Lucasfilm is shooting the next Star Wars movie in California. All previous Star Wars films have been UK-based. The chance of the high-end film and TV sector clawing back the £2 billion in US investment lost in 2023 is looking increasingly remote.