I. Why the UK
Why co-produce with a UK producer
The UK is one of the strongest co-production partners in the world right now. Tax credits have increased, funding for minority co-productions has tripled, and treaty and Convention status are unaffected by Brexit.
UK tax credits for co-productions (2026)
| Production type | UK tax credit | Approximate net value | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature film and high-end TV (AVEC) | 34% | about 25.5% | On up to 80% of core expenditure. High-end TV must spend at least £1m per broadcast hour. |
| Animation and children's TV | 39% | about 29.25% | Film and television. |
| Visual effects uplift | 39% on VFX costs | about 29.25% | Film and high-end TV. VFX costs fall outside the 80% cap. Not available with the Independent Film Tax Credit. |
| Independent Film Tax Credit | 53% | about 39.75% | On the first £15m of core spend, for films with budgets up to £23.5m. Official co-productions can qualify. |
The credit is claimed by the UK co-producer, through its UK corporation tax return, on production spend used or consumed in the UK. At least 10% of core expenditure must be UK spend, and the project needs British certification from the BFI, either through the cultural test or as an official co-production.
UK Global Screen Fund
The UK Global Screen Fund gives non-recoupable grants of up to £300,000 to UK independent producers. Grants cover minority feature film co-productions in any language and genre, and television co-productions in animation and documentary. Its budget is rising from £7m to £18m a year for 2026 to 2029.
Treaties and the European Convention
The UK has 12 bilateral co-production treaties and is a member of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production. The Convention is a Council of Europe agreement, not an EU one, so it was not affected by Brexit.
II. What we bring
What Reid Productions brings to a co-production
01 A UK partner who knows how films are sold
Joey Dawson has hands-on sales experience across theatrical, television and streaming. Commercial strategy shapes a project from the first conversation, so the UK side of your finance plan is built with the market in mind.
02 Access to UK tax credits and funding
As your UK co-producer, we hold the UK production company, apply for BFI certification and claim the UK tax credit on UK spend. Where the project and our role qualify, we can apply to the UK Global Screen Fund and other UK funders.
03 British talent, crews and locations
We back writers, directors and performers we trained and came up alongside, and we can bring UK talent to your project. We are based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in the West Midlands, and can support shoots in Shropshire and across the UK. Being based outside London counts in our favour with UK funders that look for benefit across the UK's nations and regions.
04 Digital and performance capture experience
Joey has worked across digital content, performance capture and audience strategy.
05 Genre stories with something real at their centre
We look for projects told in genres audiences already want to watch, with something real at their centre. Our early work includes science fiction (Faults, Euphoria, both 2025) and short films (Broken Gargoyles, 2026).
III. How it works
How a UK co-production works
Official co-production
An official co-production qualifies under one of the UK's bilateral treaties or the European Convention. It counts as a national film in each partner country, so each producer can access its own country's funding and incentives. The BFI must receive the application at least four weeks before principal photography.
Co-production without a treaty
Where there is no treaty, for example with the United States, South Korea or Japan, a project can still get UK tax relief if it passes the UK cultural test (at least 18 of 35 points) and spends in the UK. We will tell you early which route fits your project.
Minimum UK share
Under most bilateral treaties the minimum share for each country is 20% (30% for Australia). Under the revised European Convention it is 10% for two-country co-productions and 5% for multilateral ones, where every participating country has ratified it. Check the exact terms of the treaty that applies to your project.
IV. By country
Co-producing with the UK, country by country
| Partner country | UK co-production route | Film | Television |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| Brazil | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| Canada | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| China | Bilateral treaty (TV under a separate agreement) | Yes | Separate agreement |
| France | Bilateral treaty and European Convention | Yes | Cultural test |
| India | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Cultural test |
| Israel | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| Jamaica | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Cultural test |
| Morocco | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Cultural test |
| New Zealand | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| Occupied Palestinian Territories | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| South Africa | Bilateral treaty | Yes | Yes |
| Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordic countries and other Convention members | European Convention | Yes | Cultural test |
| United States, South Korea, Japan and other non-treaty countries | UK cultural test | Cultural test | Cultural test |
The European Convention covers feature films, not television. UK and European partners can still co-produce television with UK tax relief through the cultural test.
V. Work with us
Propose a co-production
We are looking for international partners on feature films and television with powerful stories and commercial appeal. To propose a project, email contact@reidproductions.co.uk with "Co-production:" and your project title in the subject line, and include:
- Logline and a short synopsis
- Script or treatment, if available
- Budget and current finance plan
- Partners already attached, including sales agents, broadcasters and funds
- The countries involved and the share you expect the UK to take
- Your timeline, including planned shoot dates
- Any market or festival you are attending, so we can arrange to meet in person or online
VI. Questions
Co-production with the UK: frequently asked questions
Why co-produce with a UK producer?
A UK co-producer can unlock UK tax credits of 34% to 53% on UK spend, UK Global Screen Fund grants of up to £300,000, official co-production status under 12 bilateral treaties and the European Convention, and access to UK talent, crews, locations and the UK market.
Who claims the UK tax credit in a co-production?
The UK co-producer claims it, through its UK corporation tax return, on production spend used or consumed in the UK. The project needs British certification from the BFI, and at least 10% of core expenditure must be spent in the UK.
Can an official co-production claim the 53% Independent Film Tax Credit?
Yes. Official co-production status is one of the ways a film can qualify for the Independent Film Tax Credit, provided its total budget is no more than £23.5m and it meets the other conditions. The 53% rate applies to the first £15m of qualifying core expenditure.
Which countries have a co-production treaty with the UK?
The UK has bilateral treaties with Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Jamaica, Morocco, New Zealand, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and South Africa. It is also a member of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.
Does the European Convention cover television?
No. The European Convention covers feature films only. UK–European television co-productions can still qualify for UK tax relief through the cultural test. The UK's treaties with Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and South Africa do cover television.
Can we co-produce with the UK without a treaty?
Yes. Producers from countries without a UK treaty, such as the United States, South Korea and Japan, can co-produce with a UK company if the project passes the UK cultural test and spends in the UK. The UK company then claims UK tax relief on that UK spend.
Is the UK still part of Creative Europe MEDIA?
No. The UK left Creative Europe at the end of 2020, and in July 2025 the UK government said it had no plans to rejoin. The UK Global Screen Fund now provides UK support for international co-productions, and the UK's treaties and European Convention membership were not affected by Brexit.
What is the smallest share the UK can take?
Under most UK bilateral treaties the minimum share is 20% (30% for Australia). Under the revised European Convention it can be as low as 10% for two-country co-productions and 5% for multilateral ones, where all participating countries have ratified the revised Convention.
When should we apply for official co-production status?
The BFI must receive the application for official co-production status at least four weeks before principal photography begins.
Where is Reid Productions based?
Reid Productions is based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in the West Midlands of England. It was founded in 2018 and is led by Executive Producer Joey Dawson.
VII. In your language
Coproduction · Koproduktion · Coproducción · Coproduzione
Reid Productions est une société de production britannique indépendante de cinéma et de télévision, basée à Shrewsbury (Shropshire). Nous accompagnons les producteurs internationaux en tant que coproducteur britannique, majoritaire ou minoritaire. Une coproduction avec le Royaume-Uni peut ouvrir l'accès aux crédits d'impôt britanniques sur les dépenses engagées au Royaume-Uni, à l'accord de coproduction franco-britannique, à la Convention européenne sur la coproduction cinématographique et au UK Global Screen Fund. Écrivez-nous à contact@reidproductions.co.uk – nous répondons en anglais.
Reid Productions ist eine unabhängige britische Film- und Fernsehproduktionsfirma mit Sitz in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Wir arbeiten mit internationalen Produzenten als britischer Koproduzent zusammen, als Mehrheits- oder Minderheitspartner. Eine Koproduktion mit Großbritannien kann Zugang zu britischen Steuergutschriften auf in Großbritannien getätigte Ausgaben, zum Europäischen Übereinkommen über die Gemeinschaftsproduktion von Kinofilmen und zum UK Global Screen Fund eröffnen. Schreiben Sie uns an contact@reidproductions.co.uk – wir antworten auf Englisch.
Reid Productions es una productora británica independiente de cine y televisión con sede en Shrewsbury (Shropshire). Trabajamos con productores internacionales como coproductor británico, mayoritario o minoritario. Una coproducción con el Reino Unido puede dar acceso a los créditos fiscales británicos sobre el gasto realizado en el Reino Unido, al Convenio Europeo sobre Coproducción Cinematográfica y al UK Global Screen Fund. Escríbanos a contact@reidproductions.co.uk; respondemos en inglés.
Reid Productions è una casa di produzione britannica indipendente di cinema e televisione con sede a Shrewsbury, nello Shropshire. Collaboriamo con produttori internazionali come coproduttore britannico, maggioritario o minoritario. Una coproduzione con il Regno Unito può dare accesso ai crediti d'imposta britannici sulle spese sostenute nel Regno Unito, alla Convenzione europea sulla coproduzione cinematografica e allo UK Global Screen Fund. Scriveteci a contact@reidproductions.co.uk; rispondiamo in inglese.