FILM - Olsberg|SPI has a unique level of understanding on the international film industry. Our ten year history of advising the sector along with the experience of the principals as industry executives, producers and executive producers, all combines in our ability to deliver a very high level of expertise to the sector.

FILM AND TELEVISION-INDUCED TOURISM STUDY
UK Film Council
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

NORTHERN IRELAND STUDIO FEASIBILITY STUDY (Apr-2006)
NIFTC
SPI was retained by NIFTC to assess the feasibiity of a studio facility in Northern Ireland. The study assessed current proposals for a film and broadcast studio, and ascertained the market demand in the region for such a facility.

TAX INCENTIVES STUDY (Jan-2006)
Cinecitta Holding
SPI was recently been retained by Cinecitta Holding Rome to conduct a study on cinema tax incentives internationally and to outline future tax incentive strategy for Italy.

SALES SECTOR STRATEGY (Jan-2006)
UK Film Council
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.

STATE AID ADVICE (Jan-2006)
CineRegio
CineRegio is an association of European regional public film investment funds. SPI advised the members on issues relating to forthcoming changes to European Commission regulations on State Aid.

UK SALES SECTOR CONSULTANCY
UK Film Council
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.

ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE CZECH FILM INDUSTRY
Czech Ministry of Culture
SPI is currently undertaking a study on the Czech film production sector involving a full economic impact assessment of current activity and the generation of strategic options to assure future growth. As part of this work SPI is mapping economic activity data from companies in the sector and governmental organisations, and will generate options for strategic support initiatives for the sector.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR THE FILM AND TV INDUSTRY IN VICTORIA
Film Victoria, Australia
SPI, together with LEK Consulting, has been commissioned by Australian media development agency, Film Victoria, to develop a strategic directions paper outlining how the state of Victoria can develop and sustain its film and television industry. As part of the assignment, SPI conducted an analysis of international industry trends and designed and delivered a series of client and industry workshops in Australia.

CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME
NIFTC
SPI was commissioned to develop and deliver an advanced training programme for content producers from Belfast. The programme included individual one - to - one tutoring as well as a workshop on strategic company development. Additionally, participants produced a strategic business development document.

UK FILM COUNCIL AUDIT AND ANALYSIS OF STATE AID SUPPORT SCHEMES
UK Film Council
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

EAST MIDLANDS DIGITAL SCREEN INITIATIVE
EM Media
SPI was hired by EM Media and the East Midlands Development Agency to undertake a Development Study for the East Midlands Digital Screen Initiative, in order to explore the viability of the EMDSI, make appropriate recommendations on technical, operational and business model solutions and to assess the potential economic impact of the initiative. In addition to this SPI explored the options and potential benefits of establishing an East Midlands Moving Image Trade Fair.

SME BUSINESS PLANNING
Channel Four Television
Channel 4 retained SPI to assist in the process of building stable preferred suppliers for its programming. The broadcaster hired SPI to facilitate companies in strategising to build their businesses. In order to do this, SPI conducted ‘Away Days’ culminating in the preparation of ‘Business Strategy Papers’ for some of its key suppliers.

CO-PRODUCTION TOURNAMENT
UK Film Council
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.

SKILLSET FILM BUSINESS ACADEMY
Skillset
Olsberg|SPI was retained by Skillset, the sector skills council for the audiovisual industries, to determine specifications for the Skillset Film Business Academy, a new high-level institution which will deliver the business skills required for the film industry. Part of the national strategy published in A Bigger Future, the SFBA will be one element in the network of screen academies to be established nationally, and is to provide the highest level postgraduate business education to the film industry, in particular the distribution and exhibition sectors. Skillset is expected to publish details of the specification later this year.

CITY OF LIGHT, ALICANTE
Ciudad de la Luz
SPI has undertaken two major assignments for this major new film and television studio development currently being constructed outside Alicante in Spain. In the first, SPI was reviewed a set of strategies for attracting production to an area of Spain which previously had only been used for its locations. The second assignment was a study into the studios' competitive position in Europe. This involved mapping all fiscal production incentives across 25 European countries, in depth budget comparison work and an analysis of the competition factors for a studio. David Rance of AD Studio Consultants, a UK based company providing specialist expertise to businesses developing new film and television studios worldwide, has also worked with Ciudad de la Luz. More details can be found at: < www.adstudioconsultants.co.uk

COMPARATIVE PRODUCTION COSTS PROJECT
UK Film Council
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.

EUROPEAN RATINGS
European Commission
Olsberg|SPI has been retained, along with Kern European Affairs and KPMG, to conduct a review of the structure and practice of feature film ratings throughout the territories of the EU and the EEA and across all media. This major study is currently underway and findings are expected to be presented in August of this year.

SPECIALISED EXHIBITION/ DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES
UK Film Council
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.

SCOTTISH STUDIO DEVELOPMENT
Scottish Enterprise
In conjunction with BDO Stoy Hayward, we are currently advising Scottish Enterprise on the tender for a possible Scottish studio development. Scottish Enterprise is using Olsberg|SPI and BDO Stoy Hayward to assist in structuring the tender process, formulating the tender documents, and evaluating the tender submissions, primarily from a business and feasibility perspective.

NORTHERN IRELAND DEVELOPMENT STUDY
LEDU / T and EA
We conducted a major review of the development needs and skills and training needs of the Northern Ireland film and broadcast sector. This work, sponsored by LEDU, the small business agency, and T&EA, the training agency, resulted in a series of proposed initiatives to support the industry as it moves to engage issues of sustainability of companies and convergence of the digital media sector. Many of the recommendations were radical in their call for a new business-based approach to support of the Northern Ireland sector. The report also insisted on the need for companies to seek to access global markets in order to construct sustainable business strategies. Much of the substance of the report is currently being taken forward by the Northern Ireland Film Commission, for whom we have recently been hired to determine a business strategy for its Digital Film Archive.

EQUATOR LIBRARY
Equator Group Plc
Undertook the valuation of this London film library including the Handmade titles such as Withnail and I and The Long Good Friday. Also retained subsequently to conduct two valuations of other libraries owned by the same company.

NORTHERN FILM FUND
One North East
An assignment to develop a public/private venture capital based fund to invest in film projects connected to the North of England. The study examined alternative ways the fund could be structured and which public and private sector organisations could participate in the funding.