Film and TV Productions Boost Economy

FifeScreen+TayScreen, the screen office supported by the Councils of Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross has published its latest annual report, showing that screen production generated an estimated economic impact of more than £11 million across the Fife Tay region during 2024/25 and 2025/26. 

 Across the two years, productions spent £5.7 million in the region and recorded 826 production days—399 in 2024/25 and 427 in 2025/26. Annual production spend was £2.9 million and £2.8 million respectively, representing an overall increase of 20% compared with 2023/24 and demonstrating sustained demand during a period of major change across the UK screen industry. 

The benefits extend well beyond production spending. Film and television increasingly influence where people choose to travel. There is growing trend known as ‘set-jetting’, where visitors seek out places they have seen on screen. By showcasing the region’s distinctive landscapes, historic properties, towns and coastlines to audiences worldwide, productions can generate lasting tourism interest and provide valuable international promotion long after filming has finished.  

The region attracted a broad mix of feature films, television drama, factual entertainment, fashion shoots and commercials. High-profile projects included James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’, filmed in Dundee; ITV crime drama Karen Pirie 2 in St Andrews and wider Fife; Outlander Season 8 and Blood of My Blood across Fife and Perthshire; and Jack of Spades, directed by Academy Award-winner Joel Coen and filmed in Culross.  

Other productions included Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, The Primrose Railway Children, Made in Chelsea, Maya, Department Q, Half Man and Borges and Me, alongside a major Christian Dior event and fashion shoot at Drummond Castle. Together, these projects have brought spending to local locations, accommodation, hospitality, transport and production suppliers while showcasing the region to audiences around the world. 

Two years at a glance  

£5.7 million — direct production spend across 2024/25 and 2025/26 

Over £11 million — estimated economic impact for the regional economy 

826 — production days across Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross 

£47.7 million — estimated economic impact delivered by filming in the region from 2015 to 2025  

A key role of FifeScreen+TayScreen is to make filming across the region as straightforward as possible: helping productions find locations, navigate permissions, connect with crew and suppliers, and access the practical support they need.    

Production, tourism and innovation 

The report highlights the wider value of screen exposure. VisitBritain research indicates that film and television increasingly influence where people travel, giving locations featured on screen long-term promotional value. FifeScreen+TayScreen is working with partners to maximise this opportunity while contributing to national discussions about responsible screen tourism and the management of pressure at popular heritage sites.  

The office is also helping to position the region for the next generation of screen production. It supports collaboration with universities, colleges and industry, contributes to the UK-wide CoSTAR programme, and helped raise awareness of the successful £20 million Local Innovation Partnership Fund bid led by Abertay University. Earlier support for the Tay5G virtual production project contributed to a UK first: a real-time virtual production link between Dundee and Manchester, subsequently shortlisted for a Screen International Global Production Award at Cannes.  

Against a backdrop of changing commissioning patterns, pressure on freelance workers and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, the report identifies further opportunities in virtual production, games and screen convergence, studio and production-service development, inward investment, skills and support for independent producers.  

Councillor Mark Flynn, Leader, Dundee City Council, said: 
“Screen production makes a valuable contribution to our regional economy, supporting local jobs and businesses while promoting Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross to audiences across the world. These results demonstrate what can be achieved through a dedicated, film-friendly service and strong collaboration between councils, communities, locations and industry partners. We look forward to helping FifeScreen+TayScreen build on this success and attract further production and investment to the region.”  

Councillor Altany Craik, Spokesperson for Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, Fife Council said: 

“These results demonstrate the important contribution that film and television production makes to Fife’s economy, supporting local businesses, jobs and services while showcasing our distinctive towns, coastlines, countryside and historic locations to audiences worldwide. From internationally successful productions such as Outlander to Karen Pirie and Joel Coen’s Jack of Spades, Fife continues to prove its appeal as a flexible and film-friendly destination. Fife Council is proud to support the work of FifeScreen+TayScreen in attracting further production and investment to the area and supporting screen tourism.”  

Councillor Grant Laing, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “Perth and Kinross offers filmmakers an exceptional combination of dramatic landscapes, historic estates, welcoming communities and accessible towns. Productions ranging from Outlander and The Primrose Railway Children to Made in Chelsea and Christian Dior’s event at Drummond Castle illustrate how effectively the area can meet very different creative briefs. We want to build on this international exposure by working with FifeScreen+TayScreen to attract new productions, open opportunities for local suppliers and encourage visitors to discover the places they have seen on screen.” 

Julie Craik, FifeScreen+TayScreen, said: “These results show the sustained value of screen production to the region. Across two years, the region welcomed an exceptional range of productions—from globally recognised dramas and feature films to fashion, factual and commercial work. Each project creates opportunities for local businesses and crew while placing our cities, towns, coastlines and landscapes in front of audiences worldwide. We continue to build on this momentum by promoting the region, supporting innovation and skills, and converting industry interest into lasting economic and tourism benefits.”   

FifeScreen+TayScreen is the screen office serving Dundee City Council, Fife Council and Perth & Kinross Council. It provides a free one-stop service for productions, including support with locations, roads and permissions, regional crew and services, facilities and production logistics.  

The office promotes the region to attract production and investment, drives opportunities towards regional suppliers, and supports screen-related tourism, innovation and sector development.  

FifeScreen+TayScreen works with Screen Scotland and other Scottish screen offices through the Scottish Locations Network and is a member of Film Offices UK. 

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