Olsberg|SPI has undertaken the following assignments for UK Film Council:

FILM AND TELEVISION-INDUCED TOURISM STUDY
SPI was retained by the UK Film Council , Visit Britain and others to undertake an in-depth survey and detailed, robust analysis of the effects of film and television products on tourism in the UK, from both British and international visitors. The assignment looked at the kinds of films and programmes that attract tourists to particular regions, the motivations for that attraction, and the kinds of visitors who are motivated to visit.
Click here to see report

SALES SECTOR STRATEGY (Jan-2006)
A study measuring the economic contributions of the international film sales sector in the UK, including mapping the sector. The first study of its kind to look in-depth at the sales sector. In order to determine what policies could be developed to support growth in exports of British films.

UK SALES SECTOR CONSULTANCY
SPI has recently been retained to conduct a mapping and evaluation of the UK sales agent sector for the UK Film Council. The study involves identifying the scope and nature of the sector, as well as recommending how public stakeholders might improve support measures.

UK FILM COUNCIL AUDIT AND ANALYSIS OF STATE AID SUPPORT SCHEMES
SPI was hired to undertake an audit of all film-related support schemes across the value chain throughout the nations and regions of the UK, as well as an analysis of the status of schemes with regards to EU State Aid regulations. The purpose of this study was to determine how EU regulations have informed the structure of film support programmes in the UK, in comparison to other key European comparators. As part of the assignment, SPI undertook numerous consultations and held a focus group with key stakeholders from the Nations and Regions, State Aid Policy Unit, DCMS and others.

Click here to read Richard Miller's article in Screen International on the impact of EU State Aid Regulations on European Film Funding

CO-PRODUCTION TOURNAMENT
Click here to download the full press release.
A co-production tournament between British and Swedish producers has taken place on the island of Skaftö on the west coast of Sweden. The three day event was initiated by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film I Väst, the regional Swedish investment fund, in partnership with Olsberg|SPI to help a small group of selected producers sharpen their co-production skills. It included role play challenges to broaden their practical understanding of the advantages and pitfalls of current co-production structures.

UK DIGITAL CINEMA
Olsberg|SPI has been retained to review the processes and issues in preparing feature film for digital projection - including digital mastering, compression, encryption and transportation. This assignment is in connection with the UK Film Council's consideration of a digital specialised exhibition circuit.

COMPARATIVE PRODUCTION COSTS PROJECT
UK Film Council International (formerly British Film Commission) have retained SPI to conduct an analysis of the comparative costs of production of international feature films. SPI is analysing the budgets of two different scales of production in the US, the UK, the Czech Republic, Romania, Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland.

SPECIALISED EXHIBITION/ DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES
Olsberg|SPI, in association with Brussels based Kern European Affairs, was retained by the UK Film Council, as part of a major review of specialised exhibition and distribution. We performed a series of international case studies into exhibition and distribution structures and support systems in three European countries – Denmark, France and Spain – and three non-European countries – Australia, Canada and South Africa. The work involved a detailed review of demographics and culture, general industry structures, and exhibition and distribution systems in each of the six countries. It also required us to summarise the key support mechanisms in these countries and make recommendations as to their applicability for the UK.

EXPORT PROMOTION INITIATIVES FOR UK FILM
An evaluation, conducted for the UK Film Council, of the various film export promotion initiatives in existence to promote UK films. The goal was to determine their effectiveness in terms of industrial policy. This involved a number of detailed interviews with sales agents and producers to evaluate their export needs and the realities and demands of the international film marketplace. Several robust recommendations were made on structural change.

STRATEGY FORMULATION FOR REGIONAL SCREEN INDUSTRIES
For the four English regions - East England, London, South West England and West Midlands - we were retained, in response to the UK Film Council’s English regional strategy, to perform analyses of the strategies of the screen agencies and to recommend alternative structures of policy delivery. This involved an evaluation of the growth potential of the sector in each of the regions, encompassing a detailed review of delivery of all aspects of policy.