Why Co-Productions Matter More Than Ever in Today’s Screen Sector
Ahead of SPI’s upcoming episode of Beyond the Screen by SPI: Rethinking International Co-production webinar on 6th October 2026, Consultant Kayleigh Hughes explores some of the trends reshaping international co-production and asks what these changes could mean for producers, funders and screen agencies.
While international co-production is not a new phenomenon, shifting production landscapes, increasingly international markets and evolving financing models are changing how and why it is being used. Today, co-production is often seen as a strategic tool to strengthen international partnerships, build company resilience, access new markets and support long-term screen sector development.
More than a financing solution
Through official co-production treaties, producers can gain access to multiple sources of funding, combining public funding, grants, production incentives, broadcaster investment, and private capital from partner countries. Co-production can also enable producers to pool resources, reduce production risk, open up distribution opportunities and access local talent, infrastructure and expertise.
Evidence also suggests that co-production can support greater scale and reach. Research from the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) in 2026 found that international co-productions had higher median budgets than 100% national films in Europe. In 2023, the co-productions in the study sample had median budgets that were €405,000 to €535,000 higher than 100% national productions. An earlier EAO study from 2017 also found that co-productions can achieve greater international circulation: about 62.9% of co-productions released between 2010 and 2015 secured a theatrical release outside their main production country, compared with 39.5% of national films.
The right co-production relationship can help a project become larger, more internationally connected and better positioned to reach the widest possible audience.
The geography is shifting
Europe remains at the heart of international co-productions. Co-productions account for around 23% of European feature film productions, underpinned by the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production. The convention encourages multi-lateral film co-productions between three or more signatory countries, while also allowing for bi-lateral co-productions where no bi-lateral treaty exists.
Between 2013 and 2023, Spain co-produced more the 570 feature films with other countries; co-productions are increasing in France, with 137 feature co-productions recorded in 2025, representing 47% of the total number of films produced in the country. In 2025, France co-produced with 41 different countries.
However, new co-production treaties and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) are also creating new connections and partnerships across the globe. Regional and cultural ties remain powerful drivers, with partnerships often forming between neighbouring countries or jurisdictions with established linguistic, cultural or industry connections – for example, between the Netherlands and Indonesia, the Philippines and Spain, and the UK and Canada through an update to an existing co-production treaty.
New treaties and agreements are also creating connections further afield, as evidenced by recent news from the Philippines and France, and Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Alongside formal treaties, a growing ecosystem of markets, labs, producer exchanges and dedicated funding initiatives is helping producers build relationships before a specific project reaches the financing stage. Examples include:
Spotlight Asia, launched in 2023 by the Marché du Film in partnership with Ties That Bind (Fondo Audiovisivo FVG, EAVE, Far East Film Festival and TAICCA) and Focus Asia, aims to connect European and Asian industry professionals, build networks and explore co-production opportunities
A €1 million annual fund was launched in 2025 to support Italian co-productions with Latin America, Spain and Portugal
In June 2026, A co-production event was held in London involving 70 UK companies and a delegation of 37 Australian producers and writers, encouraging creative and commercial collaboration. The event was supported by Screen Australia, Ausfilm, the British Film Institute (BFI), Film London and Pact
Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture announced an international co-production fund worth IDR20 billion (US$1.13 million) a year for as many as 10 projects. The fund is designed to position Indonesia as a regional co-production hub
In September 2026, Screen Australia, the New Zealand Film Commission and Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office partnered on a new programme of international development labs designed to support collaboration and partnership between indigenous writers, directors and creative producers from the three countries.
Such initiatives demonstrate how the industry is investing time, effort and money in developing the international relationships that can underpin future co-productions and recurring collaboration.
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Join the discussion and hear directly from industry experts
As international co-productions continue to evolve and become more strategically important, questions remain about what makes an international partnership genuinely valuable and sustainable.
Kayleigh will be exploring these themes, among others, with three expert panellists during the latest edition of the Beyond the Screen by SPI webinar on 6th October 2026. Joining Kayleigh will be:
Laura Churchill, CEO & Film Commissioner at PictureNL
Tamara Tatishvili, Head of the Hubert Bals Fund
Teresa McGrane, COO at Wild Atlantic Pictures.
For more information about the webinar, see here.
To join the webinar, register here.