WEDNESDAY WHEREABOUTS: THE FIRST GRACE!

Wednesday Whereabouts returns with a look at 1/3 of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront – The Port of Liverpool Building.

INTO THE LEAD: 2 BIRDS AND A PLAN

For our final look at the participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Kate Robinson, founder of Liverpool-based production company 2Birds and a Camera.

CALLING ALL CREW, PRODUCTION LEADS AND FACILITIES – HAVE YOUR SAY!

Calling all North West screen industry crew, facilities and production leads!

Along with our Screen Alliance North partners (Screen Manchester, North East Screen and Screen Yorkshire), we form the largest BFI Skills Cluster in the country. Our remit is to work across the north of England to tackle skills shortages and improve access to quality training provision for diverse talent and communities.

As we head into our next phase of Screen Alliance North, we want to ensure we’re meeting the needs of the sector and wider industry by gathering real‑time data to map crew and facilities to upcoming productions, identify skills gaps and shortages, and enable our four partners to work strategically across the north to build a stronger, happier and more inclusive workforce for a sustainable future as a leading global centre for screen production.

In order to achieve this, we’re asking for 10 mins of your time to fill in a survey about the use of our databases.

As a thank you for taking part, all those who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win an overnight stay for 2 at a Dakota hotel (in Manchester, Leeds or Newcastle).

Fill in your appropriate survey below before 20th March.

For LCR based Crew on the LFO database ➡️ https://forms.gle/2PYa5s2JtPBnUUvR6

For Senior Execs and Production Companies based in Liverpool City Region ➡️ https://forms.gle/ei61RGSihtZsHwV69

For LCR based Facilities on the LFO database ➡️ https://forms.gle/mTfdKuPFc6T3yuTY8

INTO THE LEAD: BOOM POW!

We continue our look at Into The Lead, a new Screen Alliance North programme supporting and upskilling leaders of independent production companies across the North of England, with writer and producer Johanne McAndrew, founder of Boom Pow Productions.  

FACILTIES FRIDAY: BRINGING STYLE TO THE SCREEN

We spotlight Christine Clarke and behind Bijou & Vintage, a one‑woman costume supplier whose work –including for the recently released Netflix drama Run Away – has shaped the style of major productions across the Northwest and beyond. 

INTO THE LEAD: FROM LIVERPOOL TO THE WORLD

Continuing our series profiling participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Sol Papadopoulos, co-director and founder of Liverpool-based Hurricane Films. 

WEDNESDAY WHEREABOUTS: DOWN BY THE WATER

Whereabouts Wednesday is back! We continue our series looking at our region’s extensive filming locations with a look at the burgeoning Liverpool Waters area.

Liverpool Waters offers an exceptional range of opportunities for film and TV productions in the region, accommodating production teams needing significant land for unit bases, parking, and logistics, whilst also providing stunning and versatile filming locations.

Over the years, Liverpool Waters has welcomed a wide variety of high‑profile productions, hosting teams from House of Guinness, The Batman, Peaky Blinders, Fantastic Beasts, and most recently, This City Is Ours, often seeing action scenes unfold while the day‑to‑day work on the estate continues.

A standout moment for Liverpool Waters was during the filming of Channel 4’s The Gathering, when actors staged a dramatic sequence involving jumps into Princes Dock, with rescue boats on standby to escort them from the water, “seeing that level of energy and coordination up close was fantastic”.

Their skyline – familiar to any TCIO fans – includes residential buildings up to 34 storeys high across the Princes Dock area, giving unrivalled views across the waterfront, along with historic spaces within Central Docks that lend themselves to a broad mix of genres – from contemporary drama to period productions.

So whether productions need water access, large-scale operational space, or atmospheric backdrops, Liverpool Waters is uniquely equipped to support their creative and practical needs. 

The city is incredibly adaptable and visually rich – it can transform into a huge variety of settings. Whether productions require waterfront access, contemporary urban environments, or a striking historical backdrop, Liverpool offers options that work beautifully on camera. Its versatility, architecture, and cinematic appeal make it one of the most popular filming destinations in the UK.

Learn more about Liverpool Waters here ➡️ https://www.liverpoolwaters.co.uk/

OUR NORTHERN TV AND FILM GALA

A huge thank you to every single person who attended the 2026 Northern TV and Film Gala at Liverpool Town Hall on Saturday night.

FACILITIES FRIDAY: SUNBELT FILM AND TV

#FacilitiesFriday returns with a look at Liverpool Film Office partner Sunbelt Rentals Film and TV.

INTO THE LEAD: COME INTO THE FOLD

Continuing our series spotlighting participants of Into The Lead, Screen Alliance North’s leadership programme for independent production companies across the North of England, we hear from Michelle Stein, co-founder of North West-based production company The Fold.

Film and TV Charity: Money Matters 2

FILM AND TV CHARITY REPORT REVEALS STRUGGLING WORKFORCE

Drawing on insights from over 2,000 people working behind the scenes in film, TV, and cinema, the Film and TV Charity’s latest Money Matters 2 report unfortunately reveals a workforce under mounting financial pressure. Key findings include:

– 46% of freelancers are struggling financially (compared with 27% of permanent staff)

– 74% are considering leaving the industry due to money worries

– 43% have already taken steps to leave – up from 32% in 2023

The results point to a sector losing stability, resilience, and confidence. However The Charity’s message is clear: short‑term fixes won’t be enough. Securing the long‑term health of the screen industries requires meaningful, coordinated, industry‑wide action.

That’s why we are proud to be supporting the Film and TV Charity at this Saturday’s ‘Northern TV and Film Gala’ at Liverpool Town Hall, raising funds for and awareness of the charity’s integral work supporting all aspects of our industry’s crew.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY

IT’S OFFICIAL! 5 YEAR IMPACT REPORT

IT’S OFFICIAL!

OUR NEW IMPACT REPORT REVEALS Liverpool City Region has become UK’s leading film and TV hub outside London.

We are beyond proud to unveil our ‘Impact Report 2019 – 2025’, highlighting the impact our team’s hard work has had on the Liverpool City Region during this transformational period in our recent history.

Our Impact Report reveals record growth in our region’s film and TV industry since 2019, with more than 1,600 productions, including The Batman and BAFTA-winning dramas Time and The Responder, investing £150m into the local economy.

The Combined Authority’s £2.8m LCR Production Fund and the development of the LFO-managed The Depot have played a pivotal role in this growth, helping to create more than 5,400 full-time equivalent jobs, supporting local businesses, nurturing the next generation of local talent and transforming Liverpool into a major production hub and the UK’s most filmed city outside of London.

We could not have realised the positive impacts in this report without the support and hard work of our industry partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries. We would particularly like to thank The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, the British Film Institute, Screen Alliance North, Sunbelt Rentals, as well as Paul Scraton of Agency by Agency and Ross Palmer of Kenfolk for bringing the report together.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

INTO THE LEAD: FROM DENTISTRY TO INDUSTRY

INTO THE LEAD:

VAISHALLI PAATIL

Vaishalli Paatil is the founder of Wirral-based production company Photo Stories and one of the producers taking part in Into The Lead, a new Screen Alliance North programme supporting independent screen leaders in the North of England. We recently sat down to discuss her journey into the film and TV industry and her experiences of producing in the Liverpool City Region.

Photo Stories was founded in 2019, while Vaishalli was already working across a range of production roles and quietly building her own projects alongside freelance work. “I started as an assistant director initially, then stepped up as a production head and then an associate producer” she says. “I’m really passionate about storytelling and I wanted to grow in this business and do something independently.” Starting out with small documentaries, video production and editing work, those early projects eventually grew into Photo Stories, now based in Bromborough.

Her route into film and television was far from straightforward however. After moving to the UK from India in 2007, Vaishalli made the decision to step away from a ten-year career in dentistry. “I didn’t want to re-qualify for the exam to practise dentistry here,” she explains. “I’ve always been a creative person. I like telling stories.” A media production course became her way in, alongside part-time work with an arts organisation, where making dance videos at weekends sparked a deeper interest in filmmaking and editing.

Wanting a proper understanding of how productions work from the inside out, Vaishalli began training herself across different disciplines. “I wanted to learn all aspects of filmmaking,” she says. That led her to self-teach the skills needed to be a director, cinematographer and Apple-certified FCP editor, all while professionally progressing through the industry. Now, her focus is firmly on establishing herself as a producer.

Since moving back to the region from London 2 years ago, a project that stands out to Vaishalli is a voluntary documentary she made for Royden Park, an organisation that provides training for autistic people on the Wirral. It’s work she describes as “really close to my heart.” Spring boarding from that, Vaishalli is now developing new projects locally, operating more widely in our region she describes as “visually rich”, with strong regional incentives and accessible locations helping her put plans in place to bring a film production to the LCR later this year, filming across Liverpool and Bolton.

Joining Into The Lead felt like a natural next step for Vaishalli. Much of her work so far has been with Indian productions filming in the UK, but she’s keen to widen that circle. “I want to diversify,” she says, “to collaborate with other production houses and see how other cultures work.” She’s also looking to build her knowledge around emerging technologies, particularly AI, and how that might shape future projects.

LEARN MORE

FACILITIES FRIDAY: TRANSLUX COMES TO THE LCR

We take a look at Translux International – one of our Northern TV and Film Gala sponsors and supplier of high-quality facilities trailers and technical trucks to production up and down the UK.

Translux got their start in the film and television industry back in 1987, founded by former camera crew member Simon Johnson. Simon bought two Winnebagos and supplied them to the series ‘Minder’, a move that marked the beginning of Translux’s journey in production support.

Now, 39 years on, the company has gone from strength to strength, growing far beyond those first two vehicles. Over the decades, Translux has played a part in servicing some of the biggest and most beloved films and television shows ever made, earning a reputation as a trusted and reliable brand in the industry.

On their new home, Translux said, “Having worked on a number of projects in the Liverpool region, including ‘The Responder’, ‘Heads of State’ and the upcoming Peaky Blinders feature, ‘The Immortal Man’, we are really excited to be opening our Liverpool office in the very near future.

Liverpool’s rich and vibrant history translates so well to screen, and its variety of architecture means it can be shot as other locales or provide the perfect backdrop for a period piece. The local people who make up the crews are some of the kindest and most hard-working we have had the pleasure of knowing. In an industry of long-hours, travel and high-pressure, qualities such as these make productions a far more enjoyable and pleasant experience.

These are just some of the reasons why Translux love Liverpool and why they have chosen it to become the latest member of the Translux family, positioning us to work alongside local productions, contribute to the local economy and industry, and help continue the incredible storytelling history of the region.”

WFTV 2026: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Women in Film and TV UK have announced the 2026 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme cohort, with Liverpool Film Office Screen Alliance North (Screen Manchester, Screen Yorkshire, North East Screen) supporting ten northern women to take part and take their next career step in the screen industry.