Potter movies boost UK spending

Ewan McGregor and Rene Zellweger star in Miss Potter

Beatrix Potter and Harry Potter helped spark a huge increase in spending on movies in the UK last year, according to figures from the UK Film Council.

More than £840m was spent on producing 134 feature films - 50 of them entirely home-grown - in the UK in 2006.

The figure is up 48% on the 2005 total of £568.8m, making it the second best recorded year for film in the UK.

"These figures show that the UK is a great place to make a film," said film minister Shaun Woodward.

"Two Potters - Harry and Beatrix - a Golden Compass and a bit of Stardust have helped the UK's film industry have one of its best years ever."

Magic flute

Of the 134 films made, 50 of those were UK feature films, 27 inward investment films and 57 UK co-productions.

Although there was an increase in the number of indigenous films made last year - from 37 in 2005 - total UK spend on such films was 11% down on the 2005 figure.

Films with more than 50% finance from outside the UK include the movie version of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials; Stardust, starring Sienna Miller; and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Indigenous films include the adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement, Kenneth Branagh's The Magic Flute, Mr Bean's Holiday, starring Rowan Atkinson, Hot Fuzz with Simon Pegg and The Golden Age, which is the sequel to Elizabeth.

UK Film Council chief executive Officer John Woodward said: "2006 was a great year for film production in the UK.

"We are back in business with British filmmakers winning international awards, a crop of great British films produced, British talent and facilities in demand from filmmakers around the world."