Opulence Pictures | United Kingdom

Opulence Pictures UK

Film & TV Production Services in the UK

Welcome to Opulence Pictures UK, a premier film production company with years of experience in Hollywood. Having proudly expanded with a new office in Manchester, UK, we specialize in film and TV production services across the entire country, with a focus on the vibrant North. In addition to our production expertise, we also offer financing and post-production services. The UK provides a substantial tax incentive of 25%, set to increase to 40% in April 2025, making it the perfect location to shoot your next movie and maximize your budget. If you're looking for production partners in the United States, head over to our USA page.

TM & © 2011 Disney / Marvel Studios / Paramount Fair Use Notice: This image is used to highlight that scenes from Captain America: The First Avenger were filmed in Manchester, showcasing the city as a versatile substitute for locations like New York. Our goal is to educate visitors about Manchester's potential as a filming destination, rather than to commercially benefit from the image itself. No copyright infringement intended. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976: This image is used under "fair use" for purposes such as comment, education, and research, as it contributes to an understanding of Manchester’s role in film productions.

Projects Shot in Northern UK

Service Production in the UK

We specialize in providing full-service production support for international and domestic film and television projects looking to shoot in the UK. For commercial video production, head over to our sister company Opulence Studios. With extensive local knowledge and a highly skilled network of professionals, we ensure a seamless production experience, offering everything from location scouting, casting, and crew sourcing to equipment rental, permits, and post-production services.

Whether you're an overseas production company seeking a local partner to manage your shoot, or a UK-based company looking for expert logistics and production support, we deliver comprehensive service production tailored to your project's needs. Our goal is to let you focus on creativity, while we handle the rest.

Here's some of what we offer:

Budgeting & Scheduling

Crew & Equipment Hire

Casting

Insurance

Sound Stages

Travel & Accommodation

Planning & Logistics

Health & Safety

Security

Location & Tech Scouting

Props & Costumes

Catering

Cash Rebates

Understanding the importance of every penny on screen, we specialize in maximizing cash rebates for each production. With our extensive experience producing our own content, we know how crucial these rebates are. We help our clients apply for—and finance—cash rebates of up to 25% in the UK (increasing to 40% from April 2025) for film and TV productions. We also operate in Malta which offers cash rebates of up to 40%. For more information on Malta, click on the tab above.

Our network includes financing partners who can advance these rebates, allowing you to use the funds during filming rather than waiting until post-production. This allows productions to benefit immediately from available incentives.

Case Study: City of Dreams

Let's use this case study as an example of a movie shot in the UK to see how the cash rebates would work in action. We'll call the movie "City of Dreams," and it would be a period drama set in the vibrant 1980s, following the life of a young musician trying to break into the New York music scene. Because of its beautiful architecture and rich cultural heritage, Manchester serves as a stunning substitute for Brooklyn, New York. With a production budget of £10 million, the film captures the essence of the era while showcasing Manchester’s vibrant streets and lively atmosphere.

Production Details:

Location: Manchester, UK (doubling as 1980s Brooklyn)
Budget: £10 million
Shooting Duration: 6 weeks

Rebate Eligibility: With a production budget under £15 million, City of Dreams qualifies for a 40% rebate on qualifying UK expenditure, making the financial incentives incredibly attractive for filmmakers.

Estimated Qualifying Expenditure:

Total UK Spend: £9 million (including set design, cast and crew wages, vintage costumes, music licensing, and post-production)
Rebate Calculation:
- Rebate Rate: 40%
- Rebate Amount: £9 million x 40% = £3.6 million

Financial Benefits: The rebate system allows the producers to dramatically reduce their overall production costs. With a £3.6 million rebate, the effective budget for the film drops to £6.4 million, providing the creative team with significant financial flexibility.

The Figures

The UK offers one of the most competitive rebate systems in the world, making it a prime destination for film and TV productions. Starting in April 2025, it's set to become even more attractive with the introduction of the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit system. Here's why the UK is one of the best places to shoot:

Generous Rebates (New rates effective from April 2025):
- 34% rebate on qualifying UK expenditure for films and high-end TV.
- 39% rebate for animation and children's TV.
- 40% rebate for films with budgets under £15 million.

No Budget Cap: Whether you’re working on a small indie project or a major film, there’s no limit to how much you can claim.

High-End TV Minimum Spend: Projects must spend at least £1 million per broadcast hour to qualify.

Early Claim Access: You can start claiming your rebate once 80% of UK costs have been incurred, providing you with much-needed cash flow during production.

Cultural Test: Productions must pass the UK's Cultural Test to qualify as British, allowing access to rebates and co-production treaties.

Eligible Expenses: Cast and crew wages, set construction, VFX, post-production, and other UK-based costs are all included in the rebate scheme, making the UK an efficient and cost-effective choice for production.

Malta

Yes, you read that right! What’s Malta got to do with the UK? Well, we’re excited to let you know that we also operate in Malta. With close contacts in the Malta Film Commission, we pride ourselves on being the go-to company for filmmakers looking to obtain and finance cash rebates. For decades, Malta has been a favorite destination among some of the biggest filmmakers including Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, and Darren Aronofsky. Here's why:

Film Rebate Rate:

40% Cash Rebate on qualifying expenditure incurred in Malta.
An additional 2% can be claimed if the film is made in the Maltese language, bringing the total to 42%.

Minimum Expenditure:

To qualify for the rebate, productions must have a minimum spend of €100,000 on eligible costs incurred in Malta.

Eligible Expenditure: The following expenses are eligible for the cash rebate:

Cast and crew wages.
Production costs, including set construction and location fees.
Post-production services, including editing, visual effects, and sound design.
Equipment rental and purchase.
Other expenses directly related to the production.

Additional Benefits:

No cap on the total amount that can be claimed, allowing for substantial rebates on larger productions.
Fast-track approval process, enabling quicker access to funds for filmmakers.
Support from the Malta Film Commission, which assists with local permits, locations, and logistics.

Post-Production

We also offer premium post-production services in the US, UK, and Malta, trusted by leading Hollywood productions. Our locations allow productions to benefit from tax incentives in any of these countries, even if filming takes place somewhere else.

Learn More