The “GREAT British Film Reception” Celebrates UK Oscar® Nominees of the 85th Academy Awards®

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Award® nominees from the United Kingdom will be toasted at the GREAT British Film Reception in Los Angeles hosted by British Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay to celebrate the success of the UK’s creative achievements in film at the 85^th Academy Awards®. The event will be held in partnership with the British Film Commission and VisitBritain.

Attending the GREAT British Film Reception will be British notables in Hollywood including actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, distributors, and key players in the technical branches along with many entertainment industry luminaries, VIP and celebrity guests.

At this year’s Academy Awards®, the UK is handsomely represented by nominees in such films as Les Misérables, Lincoln, Anna Karenina, Skyfall, Snow White and the Huntsman, Hitchcock, Prometheus, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the UK-Norwegian co-production Kon-Tiki and documentaries The Invisible War and Searching for Sugar Man.

Launched in 2012, the GREAT Campaign continues to remind the world of the UK’s excellence in culture, music, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation and to advance British achievement and enterprise.

HM Consul-General, Dame Barbara Hay, said: “The British nominees for this year’s Academy Awards® illustrate the vital and indelible role the UK film industry plays in creating the world’s entertainment. We are awed by their achievements and immensely proud of the contributions the British film industry makes to the nation’s prosperity. There is no better place in the world to do film business than the UK – and our talent and innovation in all aspects of filmmaking continue to breed creative success .”

British success has always been part of the Academy Awards®. Last year, Meryl Streep won Best Actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in British film director Phyllida Lloyd’s “The Iron Lady,” and British producer Graham King’s “Hugo” garnered five Academy Awards®. The long list of British award winners over recent years include GREATs like Colin Firth, Tom Hooper, Danny Boyle, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Daniel Day-Lewis. With its vast talent and array of ideal locations, the UK will continue this legacy and remain a top choice for ambitious, big budget productions from all over the world.

As evidence of its commitment to establish the UK as a center for excellence in filmmaking, Britain boasts over 100 film studios, nearly 5,000 film production companies, 2,500 post-production companies and has four of the world’s largest visual effects firms based in Soho, London. British film studios and crews are first- class, its post-production services are groundbreaking and its actors are in constant demand. UK Film Tax Relief is one of the most generous, consistent and well-functioning in the industry and is set to continue.

@UKinCalifornia #BritsAtOscars

Notes to Editors

1. About the GREAT Campaign – The GREAT campaign invites the world to take a fresh look at everything Britain has to offer that make it a GREAT place to visit, study, work, invest and do business. The campaign is built around key pillars of British excellence: Creativity, Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Green, Music, Sport, Shopping, Heritage and Countryside.

2. About the British Film Commission – The British Film Commission (BFC) is the national body in charge of attracting, encouraging and supporting the production of international feature films in the UK. With offices in the UK and the US, the BFC provides free professional advice to help make productions in the UK a reality. The British Film Commission is managed by Film London through a public/private partnership which is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport through the BFI.

3. About VisitBritain – VisitBritain, the national tourist board for England, Scotland and Wales, is responsible for inspiring the world to explore Britain and for developing the UK’s visitor economy.

Britain’s rich heritage and culture, along with its film expertise all combine to make the UK an ideal location for filming, something which has been drawing film-makers to Britain for years. Research shows that film locations can be a major draw for overseas tourists. VisitBritain research shows that just under half of potential visitors to Britain want to visit places they have seen featured in films or TV. The research also suggests that, following the release of Robin Hood, visitors to Nottingham rose 5.5%; while Alnwick Castle, the location used for Hogwarts School in Harry Potter, experienced a 230% increase in visitors and £9m in spend due to the Potter effect.