A £10.5m production fund is being launched for film and TV projects with substantial production activity in Manchester, UK, backed by the regional government body, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
Applicants must be UK-based, and productions must deliver a meaningful contribution to the Manchester region with substantial production activity in the local area, through direct spend, filming, jobs or facilities.
Typically the fund will provide between £50,000 and £750,000, or up to 20% of the production budget, structured as recoupable investment. In some cases where a project delivers strong value for Greater Manchester, the funding may come partly as a grant.
Companies must have a relevant track record, be working on a feature film or TV project (including pilots) in either live action or animation and have a clear route to finance with either broadcaster interest or key financiers in place for film.
Projects should be commercially intended, and co-productions are eligible.
The GMCA has said it aims to make Greater Manchester the UK’s leading screen industry cluster outside London by 2028, with the creative industries already contributing £1.4bn to the local economy and supporting more than 48,000 jobs. Productions that have shot in Manchester in recent years include TV series Tip Toe, It’s A Sin, Peaky Blinders, House Of Guinness, Film Club and Boiling Point. Films that have shot in Manchester include Finding Emily and Anemone.
It is the first major programme within Greater Manchester’s wider Creative Industries Sector Development Plan, launched in November 2025.
“By supporting productions to come here and grow here, it will help create opportunities for local freelancers, crew and businesses, while ensuring the industry remains strong, sustainable and continues to thrive for years to come,” said Nicola Shindler, CEO and executive producer of Manchester-based Quay Street Productions.
“We want to see more productions choosing Greater Manchester, more local companies scaling up, and more people able to build successful careers in the industry here,” said Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council.
“And we want to see more of Greater Manchester on screen. This is a city region with huge creative energy and a distinct identity, and this fund will help ensure our stories, our places and our talent are seen by audiences nationally and internationally.”
However, the fund will not support short films, advertising or branded content, early-stage development, projects already in production, games or interactive projects.
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