A View From the Film Office: Our Spring 2026 Update

The busiest time we have had so far, by a country mile.

Screen Staffordshire has entered its second year of operation with significant momentum – following a highly successful first 12 months and a busy period of activity across March, April and May 2026.

(Let’s get March out of the way here and now; we can’t talk about it much. Sorry. We had a huge drama featuring world-renowned cast and a BAFTA-winning reality series from a heavy-hitting domestic broadcaster shooting with us. Both took a lot to finalise, and brought a whole lot of good with them; we’ll talk more when we can, the card below gives you a clue… Keep it to yourself!)

Having sponsored the 2026 Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards and spoken to students at Stoke-on-Trent College as part of National Careers Week in March, April rolled around quickly. In fact, it came around so quickly that it took us a while to realise that our first year had actually come to an end, and that we were/are now in the second of our three-year pilot scheme.

Before we could begin to mull this over – more on that later – there was the small matter of our first premiere screening (on April 1st; no rest for the wicked, as they say). In partnership with the Royal Television Society Midlands, we hosted the premiere of Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders at Stafford’s Gatehouse Theatre. Produced by Purple Productions in collaboration with Staffordshire Police, the tenth series was filmed locally in 2025 with support from Screen Staffordshire. The premiere brought together industry professionals for networking, an exclusive screening, and a panel discussion chaired by Suzanne Virdee. We even filmed the event itself!

Not our only night out in April either, with local talent development in the spotlight at the LCA Academy and Agency Awards 2026.

Hosted by founder and Film Office SteerCo member Ellie Ham, the event showcased student films and achievements, highlighting the strength of the region’s creative pipeline. In 2025 alone, the academy facilitated 2,700 self-tapes, leading to 250 roles secured, with 65 students appearing in a regional BBC drama amongst many other hires.

The academy continues to play a vital role in equipping young performers with both industry experience and essential life skills, and we were honoured to be an official sponsor. Thanks for having us along at the National Memorial Arboretum!

And, of course, the small feature of one of our own joining the ranks of one of the country’s best love reality shows: Local designer Sophie Newlands of Shag Interior stars in the latest series of BBC One’s Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr, further showcasing creative talent from the county. Read more about that here!

Behind the scenes, Screen Staffordshire also took an important strategic step by introducing a new service level agreement with all nine local authorities across the county. This ensures a consistent, coordinated approach to engaging with the UK film and TV sector, reinforcing a shared commitment to a “film-friendly” environment and a proactive, solutions-focused service. Each council have been remarkably supportive and engaged since we launched, and the notion and appetite for entering an official partnership has further demonstrated this. We’re very lucky indeed!
May: Increased Production Activity and Looking to the Future
Building on April’s momentum, May proved another busy month for the film office, with over 70 new enquiries received spanning a range of formats, including high-end drama and feature film. Activity included five drama recces and a visit from a US feature production, demonstrating growing international interest in Staffordshire’s locations.

The team also continued to support the local creative economy by sharing professional opportunities and strengthening industry connections through attendance at a key networking event, hosted by Castlebridge Hospitality at Courtyard by Marriott Keele

A cultural highlight of the month was the screening of Sticks & Shelter, a documentary feature from Academy Award-winning filmmakers Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton’s production outfit Slick Films. The documentary explores homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent, alongside the work of the Macari Foundation and wider social challenges – although we won’t give too much away, as we can’t recommend watching it highly enough. The screening provided an important platform for regional storytelling and underlined the power of film to spotlight local issues – as explored by the aftershow panel, chaired by Martin Tideswell.

 

 

Looking ahead, Screen Staffordshire confirmed its return to FOCUS, one of the world’s leading industry events. This year, the film office will partner with Sandon Hall and Weston Park to showcase the county’s diverse range of filming locations. Both sites have already hosted domestic and international drama recces in recent weeks, highlighting their growing appeal to production companies.

Sandon Hall

Weston Park

There are a few opportunities remaining for local partners to join the Staffordshire presence at the event, further strengthening the county’s visibility on the global stage.

In addition, productions supported by Screen Staffordshire are being encouraged to submit entries for the Royal Television Society Midlands Awards 2026, with nominations now open ahead of the ceremony in December. Find out more here!

Positive Impact and Strong Outlook

Back up at the top, we mentioned we had rolled around into our second year. Seeing where our efforts went will allow us to review our strategic direction. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that Screen Staffordshire is preparing to publish its first annual impact report this summer.

 

Initial findings suggest partners highlighting the tangible benefits of the service and stakeholders have reported increased visibility, strong operational support, and measurable economic gains – with local businesses benefiting directly from production activity.

 

With a growing pipeline of enquiries, expanding partnerships, and increasing national and international exposure, Screen Staffordshire has firmly established itself as a, if not the, key driver of film and television production in the region.

 

As it moves further into Year Two, the outlook remains highly positive – with continued growth expected across production, skills development, and inward investment for Staffordshire’s screen sector.

 

Keep your eyes peeled!

Staffordshire Moorlands and Screen Staffordshire Become Official Partners

18 June 2026

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Staffordshire’s Sophie Newlands, of Shag Interiors, to feature in upcoming series of Interior Design Masters

21 April 2026

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