Advice & Information about Covid-19

Last updated: 6th May 2022.

We understand these are challenging and uncertain times and urge you to contact us if you have specific concerns, including gaps in support provisions announced to date across the UK. We will collate these and feed them into our on-going discussions with BFI, ACW, Welsh Government, broadcasters and others, helping to shape the collective response, advice and support packages.

For immediate health concerns please see NHS Direct Wales.

General Advice & Support

From 28 March:
- Face coverings legally required only in health and care settings
- Workplaces and premises open to the public must continue to do coronavirus risk assessments
From 11th February changes to international travel restrictions mean that performers, artists, cast, crew, sports people and other support personnel will be able to enter Wales without having to isolate whether fully vaccinated or not.
From 18th February, the domestic COVID Pass will no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
From 28th February face coverings legally required only in retail, public transport and health and care settings.
Welsh Government's previously announced Winter Stability Fund has now merged into Cultural Recovery Fund 3, with £15.4m now available to support the arts and cultural sector in Wales during the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) Business Support is targeted at businesses in the hospitality, leisure and attraction sectors and their supply chains who have been materially impacted by a greater than 60% reduction of turnover between 13th December 2021 and 14th February 2022. Applications for this fund begin to open from week commencing 17th January 2022 and will remain open for two weeks.

The BFI have useful advice and guidance, including a recovery plan for the sector.
The Film & TV Charity have launched an online community platform that supports mental wellbeing. It's accessible and free for everyone who works in the industry 24/7.
The Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction also offers free substance abuse support services.
The NHS COVID-19 app for Wales and England can be downloaded here. It is additional and complementary to the existing Welsh Government test, trace and protect measures, and businesses, including cinemas, should continue to collect and hold current contact data on their customers (for 21 days from their visit) and employees. We would similarly advise that production companies and education practitioners collect and hold current contact data on their cast, crew and those they work with.

Ffilm Cymru Support

We put in place a ‘Pivot Plan’ team, made up of Board and senior management, who are shaping our response and how we redeploy funds. Importantly, this group considers any available data and feedback – from insights from online meetings with professionals from across the sector, to rapid research being undertaken by the BFI research unit and line-feedback from colleagues across the UK who are similarly implementing programmes of support.

Funding

Ffilm Cymru announced a support package worth £530,000 for the Welsh film sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, including:

An Emergency Relief Fund for writers, directors, producers & film education practitioners experiencing financial hardship.
An accelerated Development Fund for creative teams developing feature film projects
An increased Horizons Fund to support emerging talent, and additional funds to support business innovation.
New Change Award loans for Wales-based film production companies.
Adapted operations to support film exhibitors in these challenging times, including accelerating payments to cinemas to swiftly meet their immediate needs, and advancing funds to film festivals & pop-up providers.

Training & Networking

We have redesigned training and commissioning strands to take them online and are hosting online meet-ups and sharing resources that may be helpful to filmmakers, exhibitors and film education practitioners.

Throughout the pandemic, we have been advocating for support for the Welsh film industry - for people that have not been able to access job retention or support schemes, for support for independent cinemas, and for UK government to address Covid-19 exclusions in insurance policies. We have done this through participating in taskforces, as well as giving evidence to UK and Welsh Government committees and inquiries.

Welsh Government Support

The Welsh Government is reminding retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in Wales they won’t have to pay any rates until April 2022.
Welsh Government has established a £5.25m Cultural Winter Stability Fund to assist Wales' arts organisations, museums, libraries and independent cinemas through the winter months. The fund opens for applications on Wednesday 12th January 2022 and applicants will need to have submitted an online application no later than the deadline of 5.00pm on Wednesday 26th January 2022.
The COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) Business Support is targeted at businesses in the hospitality, leisure and attraction sectors and their supply chains who have been materially impacted by a greater than 60% reduction of turnover between 13th December 2021 and 14th February 2022. Applications for this fund begin to open from week commencing 17 January 2022 and will remain open for two weeks.
Welsh Government has to date run two phases of the Cultural Recovery Fund.
On 3rd March 2021, Welsh Government announced a further £30 million for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
Welsh Government announced a further £8.9 million to support creative sector freelancers through the Cultural Recovery Fund.
The Welsh Government's £180m fund for hospitality, leisure, tourism, and associated supply chain businesses opens at midday on 13th January 2021. Cinemas, including those that have previously been awarded Cultural Recovery Funds, are eligible to apply.
Following the First Minister’s most recent announcement, the Restrictions Business Fund Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) and Discretionary based grants for non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism (NERHLT) sectors has been extended to provide a single top up payment to cover the period between the 25 January and end of March 2021 for businesses affected by national restrictions.

UK Government Support

Measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the Budget of 3rd March 2021 include:
- An extension of the Coronavirus Job Support Scheme to September 2021 across the UK.
- An extension of the UK-wide Self Employment Income Support scheme to September 2021.
- An extension of the Film & TV Production Restart scheme in the UK.
£4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs
£1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s cultural, arts and heritage institutions.
UK Government has also announced the rate of VAT applied on tourism and hospitality-related activities, including cinemas, will be cut from 20% to 5%.
£500 million scheme to kickstart film and television production struggling to secure insurance for Covid-related costs.
UK Government has extended the Job Retention Scheme until end of April 2021.
The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme helps film and TV shows struggling to get insurance for Covid-related risks to get back into production. The registration deadline for this scheme is 23:59 on 28 February 2021, and claims will be able to be submitted up to 23:59 30 November 2021 for losses incurred up until 23:59 on 30 June 2021. The scheme has been extended so that cast and crew over the age of 70 can be included in the cover provided.
The Job Support Scheme has been expanded to firms required to close due to Covid Restrictions
Support for Businesses, the Self-employed and Sole Traders.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan.
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

film crew on set holding a clapperboard and wearing a mask

Guidance for Filmmakers

In line with Government’s Living with COVID-19 plan, and in consultation with industry, the British Film Commission has updated this guidance to help productions continue to manage the risk of COVID-19 as part of their overarching Health & Safety considerations.
Guidance for Safe Working in Post-Production and VFX during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Welsh Government guidance for a phased return of Creative Industries.
Welsh Government guidance for working in other people’s homes.
BECTU Film & TV recovery plan.
ScreenSkills TV Skills Fund masterclasses on working safely during Covid.

Guidance for Exhibitors

Face coverings: Welsh Government guidance on measures to be taken by employers and managers of premises.
Test, Trace, Protect: Welsh Government guidance on keeping records of staff, customers, and visitors.
UK Cinema Association Covid-19 guidance for cinemas.
UK Cinema Association and ScreenSkills online learning module and assessment test around Covid-19 for people working in cinema exhibition.

young people making a film in the street

Guidance for Film Education Providers

The Welsh Government has set out their current thinking for how they will change the operations of schools and other providers over time in response to COVID-19. Read more here.
Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can take place.