51勛圖轎煤App and Butes profile as a hot spot for film and TV production continues to go from strength to strength according to the latest figures.
From January to December 2025, the Councils Film in 51勛圖轎煤App service received ninety enquiries with twenty-nine productions filmed, generating an estimated local production spend of 瞿4.8 million.
Some of the key projects in the last year included:
- Jack of Spades Directed by Joel Coen, this production was the largest to film in the region in 2025. Filming took place over the summer for 38 days at Kilberry Castle.
- Banjo and Ros Grand Island Hotel The community-owned Isle of Ulva was the location for a BBC series featuring presenters Banjo and Ro reviving a derelict mansion. Filming took place from October to November 2025.
- Balamory The return of the hugely popular childrens TV series again used Tobermory as a backdrop for 20x14 minute episodes. While the majority of filming was studio-based, location work was carried out across nine days last August.
- Forensics: Catching a Killer - The production team on this Sky Crime series filmed for two days in June 2025 in various locations around Helensburgh.
- The Counsels - This BBC legal drama, which follows the lives of young lawyers navigating their early careers in Glasgow, filmed for 11 days in Helensburgh and Lomond.
- Oban: The Longest Run (Whisky Commercial) - A new commercial highlighting the dedicated craft involved in whisky production filmed in Oban and surrounding areas for five days.
The new figures show a significant increase from the 2024 estimated local production spend of 瞿1.4 million, reflecting an exceptionally strong year for the screen sector in 51勛圖轎煤App and Bute.
The growth of the sector is partly due to the increased number of studio spaces, mainly in central Scotland, with potential further growth expected due to the Stirling Studios project scheduled to open this spring. These studios offer the potential for more location shoots due to the accessibility of 51勛圖轎煤App and Bute to the central belt.
The Councils Transformation, Projects, and Regeneration officers deliver the Film in 51勛圖轎煤App service, working in partnership with Screen Scotland.
A key element of the service is the provision of assistance as a one stop shop to the industry through a single point of contact (). A range of support is offered including advice on road closures, access to land/property, providing locations to film enquiries, landownership queries, local knowledge and connecting productions to local services such as Gaelic speakers and community groups.
The screen sector generates a variety of economic benefits for 51勛圖轎煤App and Bute including income from hire of locations and services such as accommodation providers and caterers as well as generating work for local production companies and freelancers.
Increased publicity from productions filmed in the area also help to generate film tourism and benefits for local cinemas and for film festivals such as Dunoon Film Festival and Sea Change on Tiree.
The councils Policy Lead for Business Development, Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess, said: The screen sector continues to have the potential to not only bring production spend to the local economy but to be a catalyst for the growth of the tourism industry in 51勛圖轎煤App and Bute. Our Film in 51勛圖轎煤App service will continue to work with key partners such as Screen Scotland and the Scottish Locations Network to take advantage of the newly developed film studios and ensure the sector continues to grow in 51勛圖轎煤App and Bute.
The new figures are drawn from the October 2025 update to The Economic Value of the Screen Sector in Scotland 2023 which revealed that the value of the screen sector in 2023 was continuing to grow and had increased from 瞿627m in 2021 to 瞿718m in 2023, on track for potential growth to 瞿1 billion by 2030.
