Bristol has been crowned ‘City of Film’ in a major international awards scheme in recognition of its “outstanding and sustainable work” in the industry.
Judges for the 2024 Global Productions Awards named Cary Grant, Sir David Attenborough and Aardman Animations among their reasons for awarding the accolade to Bristol – as well praising the social and economic value its screen industry generates. 
The combined work of Bristol Film Office, which was established in 2003, and The Bottle Yard Studios, set up in 2010, was noted by judges for an ability to attract a steady flow of film and high-end television productions to the city.
The coveted award was presented at the 2024 Global Production this week during Cannes Film Festival.
The annual awards are staged by leading film trade publication Screen International to showcase outstanding and sustainable work in the world of film and TV production, locations and studios.
Bristol saw off competition from fellow shortlisted cities Limerick (Ireland), Sofia (Bulgaria), Tulsa (US) and Zagreb (Croatia), to take home the City of Film award.
Judges said that Bristol had “ticked the boxes for significance to film and TV in all forms from the past to the present day”. 
They cited in its pitch Stephen Merchant’s crime comedy TV series The Outlaws, the BBC Natural History unit, Sir David Attenborough, Aardman Animations, Bristol-born actor Cary Grant and 19th-century motion-picture pioneer William Friese-Greene.
One judge heralded Bristol as being “deliberate in its efforts to growing the screen industries for social and economic value, as demonstrated through its offering”.
Another said Bristol flagged “future growth and sustainability for emerging areas of global focus”.
“Bristol is doing all the right things,” said one judge. “While it remains a destination for lower budget or regional projects and there is room for crew and infrastructure to expand, the work at Bottle Yard is a high point.”
Film and TV production at The Bottle Yard Studios and/or supported by Bristol Film Office was worth £20.1m to the city’s economy in 2022-23, the second consecutive year that this value exceeded £20m.
The 2022 ‘Go West! 2’ report from UWE Bristol’s Digital Cultures Research Centre showed that the turnover of Bristol’s wider screen industry increased by more than 100% between 2016 and 2021, from £147.7m to £288m.
The number of independent production companies increased from 131 to 189, demonstrating the economic significance of the industry to the region. The report found that Bristol is home to the largest independent television production sector outside London.
Recent productions filmed in Bristol include the upcoming third series of Stephen Merchants’ comedy-thriller The Outlaws (beginning on BBC One on 30 May and Amazon Prime Video on 31 May), upcoming Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals (Disney+), series three of Alex Rider (Amazon Freevee), Boarders (BBC Three), Truelove (Channel 4) and Rain Dogs (BBC One/HBO Max).
The Forsyte Saga, a major new reimagining of John Galsworthy’s Forsyte novels produced by MASTERPIECE PBS and Mammoth Screen, began filming earlier this month at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location in Bristol.
Collecting the award on behalf of the city, Bristol City Council head of film Laura Aviles, said Bristol had long been a city that was home to an exceptional film and TV production sector.
“With success stories in animation, unscripted and, of course, the world’s best natural history producers, it’s little wonder we were named a UNESCO City of Film in 2017.
“For the past decade and a half, the work of The Bottle Yard Studios, alongside Bristol Film Office which turned 20 last year, has elevated scripted high-end TV and film production to an entirely new level.
“Today we’re a leading regional hub for production, a tried and trusted filming destination for producers with an incredible local crew base.
“And with clear objectives set out in our City of Film Action Plan, Bristol is making sure that film and the business of filming remains at the heart of the city’s future growth, with a focus on local skills development and employment, sustainability initiatives and supporting storytelling from regional voices.”
Natalie Moore, Bristol UNESCO City of Film Manager, added: “What an incredible achievement for the many companies, organisations and individuals working in different screen sector fields across the city.
“We were already a designated UNESCO City of Film, now we are proud to be an award-winning City of Film.
“Our work continues to strengthen the local sector, focusing on skills and workforce development, regional storytelling and on-screen representation, environmental action and climate content and international engagement and collaboration.”
Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer said winning the award was a fantastic accolade for the city’s creative sector.
“The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office have played a vital role in the growth of film and TV production in Bristol, and it’s fantastic for our city to be recognised as a world-leading location which has helped deliver for the industry,” he added.
It was the second year in a row that Bristol had featured at the prestigious international film industry awards. The Bottle Yard Studios won the 2023 Sustainable Initiative Award for the 1MW rooftop solar array at its new TBY2 facility.
