2018 – A reel-ly good year
2018 has been a reel-ly good year. We are looking back on a successful year for our project to promote filming in the area. 
Since actively promoting filming in the New Forest since 2016, Film:New Forest is now in its third year of a partnership with Creative England and the venture goes from strength to strength.
Our Film:New Forest office has received over 100 requests to film in the district this year, including student films, music videos, prime time dramas, documentaries, and adverts. Notable titles include The Undateables for Channel 4, Unforgotten for ITV, Britain by Boat for Channel 5, and Back to the Land for the BBC.
The economic benefit the filming has brought throughout the year to the area is over half a million spent by film crews whilst staying and filming in the area on goods, services, local crew, and accommodation. *
Over 60 properties have been added to the film locations database, along with 41 new local crew and services registering what they can offer production companies looking to film here. **
In February the website was launched along with the promotional film featuring film critic Mark Kermode, which has now been viewed over 20,000 times. Two networking events were held for crew and students in the spring and autumn. May saw the cinematic release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, in 2017 Disney/Lucas Film used Fawley Power Station as a backdrop for some scenes set in Corellia. In September Film:New Forest was given the highly commended award from the Federation of Small Business for 'Most Innovative Small Business Friendly programme, Campaign or Project'. In December the team attended the Focus international production show in London to showcase the area and connect with industry professionals.
The team are now busy planning a film festival for June 2019, which includes a short film competition, screenings of locally connected films across the district and film themed events.
*Based on figures supplied by Creative England and approved by BFI & Production Guild
**make your home a star by registering on the free database
