Film & production insurance

A practical guide to cover that keeps cameras rolling

Film and production insurance protects your project if something goes wrong during development, prep, principal photography, or post. It is designed to cover injuries, damage to hired kit, delays caused by cast illness, and liabilities to the public or your crew. For UK producers navigating tight schedules and complex locations, cover can be the difference between a manageable setback and a shutdown.

Since 2007, UK film productions have claimed more than £6.4 billion in Film Tax Relief, helping over 5,800 films get made. New support from April 2025 - including the Independent Film Tax Credit for eligible productions up to £15 million - is expected to lift activity further. More shoots mean more moving parts, and with greater volume comes a wider spread of risks that must be managed carefully. Insurance sits alongside tax incentives and robust budgeting to protect your cashflow if delays or claims arise.

The UK insurance market is one of the largest globally, paying out millions daily in business claims. Yet many UK businesses remain underinsured. Productions face the same risk, often underestimating limits for liability, equipment, or abandonment. With rising payroll costs and evolving employment rules from April 2025, getting the right mix of covers and accurate sums insured matters more than ever.

Insurance can offer real financial protection, but only when you understand what is covered - and where the gaps are.

This guide explains the core covers, how claims typically work, who needs what, and what affects pricing. It is written in plain English so you can move forward with confidence and a realistic view of the protections available.

What is covered and how policies respond

Most film and production policies are modular, combining liability, cast, equipment, and production package covers. Public liability typically responds if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged by your activities. Employers’ liability is usually a legal requirement when you hire employees or certain freelancers, covering injury or illness arising from work. Equipment cover can include owned and hired kit worldwide, subject to territory limits and security conditions. Cast insurance can reimburse additional costs or abandonment if a named artist becomes ill or unavailable due to an insured event.

Policies often include extra expense for delays following insured damage, and negative film or digital media risks for data loss or corruption during capture or post. Exclusions usually apply to known issues, wear and tear, gradual deterioration, wilful misconduct, or contractual penalties. High-risk activities - for example, water, aerial, stunts, pyrotechnics, or hazardous locations - may need prior declaration and specialist underwriting. Always disclose stunts early so risk assessments and method statements can be reviewed before cover is confirmed.

A typical claim starts with immediate notification to your broker or insurer, followed by incident details, call sheets, risk assessments, and invoices for extra costs. Insurers may appoint loss adjusters to verify what happened and whether costs are necessary and reasonable. For example, if a camera is dropped and damaged, you would provide hire agreements, repair quotes, and production schedules to evidence the additional expense to keep filming. If a cast member falls ill, medical certification and continuity plans support the claim. Clear paperwork and prompt notice help claims progress smoothly.

Who benefits most from this cover

This insurance is most useful for UK producers, production service companies, and independent filmmakers who would face material disruption if a single incident halted filming. It also supports advertising, unscripted, drama, and documentary teams using locations, stunts, or international travel. With the new Independent Film Tax Credit aimed at mid-budget UK films, more domestic projects will move forward, and insurance provides the safety net that investors and completion guarantors expect.

Not every project needs the same depth of cover. A micro short filmed in a controlled studio with minimal crew may require basic liability and hired kit only. Conversely, a multi-location feature, or a series with overseas elements, will likely need higher liability limits, non-appearance, cyber extensions for digital workflows, and robust travel medical plans. If your shoot is fully animated with no physical production risks, some covers may be unnecessary, but liability for premises and data exposures can still apply.

Picking a level of protection that fits

1. Entry-Level Package

   • Core public liability with modest limits, employers’ liability where required, and hired equipment cover on a short-term basis. Suitable for student films, shorts, or low-risk corporates filmed on controlled sets. Excludes hazardous activities unless pre-approved. Lower premiums but tighter sub-limits.

2. Standard Production Cover

   • Adds wider equipment cover for owned and hired kit, extra expense following insured incidents, and basic cast non-appearance for named artists. Better suited to commercials, branded content, and indie features without complex stunts. Flexible territory options and higher limits than entry-level.

3. Comprehensive Feature or Series Package

   • Includes enhanced public and employers’ liability limits, full cast non-appearance, production media risks, props-sets-wardrobe, money, and travel medical. Options for worldwide cover and longer policy periods. Recommended for projects where delays would severely damage schedules or financing.

4. Optional Add-ons

   • Stunts, aerial and underwater, pyrotechnics, firearms and weaponry, vehicles and plant, cyber coverage for digital assets and ransomware, civil authority denial of access, adverse weather, and terrorism. Add-ons must be declared with risk assessments and may require specialist conditions.

5. Extensions for International Shoots

   • Overseas liability certificates, local admitted policies if needed, and repatriation benefits. Useful for UK productions exporting formats or filming across borders where venue and permit requirements vary.

What it costs and why prices vary

Prices shown are indicative and not guarantees. Insurers consider budget, locations, experience, claims history, and risk controls. The UK market is competitive and increasingly technology-led, which can streamline underwriting and claims. As production volumes rise due to tax incentives, expect more tailored products and data-driven pricing.

Who can apply and what insurers ask for

Most UK production companies, sole traders, and special purpose vehicles can apply, including new entities set up for a single project. Insurers usually request a synopsis, schedules, budgets, locations, and risk assessments. For higher-risk scenes, they will want method statements and details of stunt coordinators, armourers, dive supervisors, or drone pilots with appropriate qualifications and permissions. For cast cover, medical questionnaires or examinations may be required before binding.

Common reasons for decline include undisclosed high-risk activities, inadequate safety governance, past material non-disclosure, or budgets and schedules that do not appear achievable. Productions with significant overseas exposures may need additional information to meet local compliance requirements. Being candid about previous incidents, near misses, or claims helps underwriters price fairly and avoid disputes later.

From quote to claim in simple steps

1. Outline the project scope, schedule, budget, and locations clearly.
2. Share risk assessments and method statements for any higher-risk scenes.
3. Choose core covers and limits that match contractual obligations.
4. Add optional extensions for stunts, travel, cyber, or international work.
5. Review exclusions and security conditions before purchase.
6. Bind cover, secure certificates, and brief your crew on duties.
7. Keep records of hires, permits, call sheets, and incident logs.
8. Notify the insurer immediately if an incident occurs and follow guidance.

Balanced view of benefits and trade-offs

Key checks before you commit

Read the schedule, policy wording, and endorsements in full. Pay attention to excesses per section, aggregate limits, and any sub-limits for hired kit left in vehicles overnight. Confirm territory and jurisdiction clauses match your shooting locations and contracts. Note any waiting periods for cast non-appearance or extra expense. Ask how renewals or extensions are priced if schedules slip. Keep proof of security measures, training records, and supplier contracts ready, as these are often required at claim stage. Clear documentation avoids delays and helps you evidence necessary and reasonable additional costs.

Related covers that might be a better fit

1. Event insurance - if you are primarily running premieres, screenings, or festivals rather than filming.
2. Equipment-only insurance - suitable when you need short-term kit cover but minimal liability exposure.
3. Professional indemnity - if you provide production services and need cover for alleged negligence in advice or post.
4. Cyber insurance - for productions with heavy digital workflows and valuable media assets.
5. Travel medical and personal accident - for crews working abroad or on remote locations.

FAQs

Q: Do I legally need employers’ liability for freelancers? A: If you control where, when, and how someone works, you may be deemed an employer and need employers’ liability. Check your arrangements carefully, especially with evolving UK employment rules.

Q: Are stunts and pyrotechnics automatically covered? A: No. They usually require prior declaration, specialist risk assessments, and specific endorsements. Without pre-approval, related claims can be declined or limited by exclusions.

Q: Can I insure only for a single shoot day? A: Yes. Short-period policies are common for commercials and small shoots. Ensure the policy dates, locations, and hired kit values match your call sheets and hire agreements.

Q: How do UK tax credits affect insurance? A: Incentives like Film Tax Relief and the Independent Film Tax Credit increase production volume and budgets, which can change risk profiles. Insurers consider this when underwriting and setting limits.

Q: What happens if my cast member falls ill? A: If insured and medically certified, cast cover may reimburse necessary and reasonable additional costs to keep filming or, in severe cases, abandonment within the policy terms and limits.

Q: Are international shoots included? A: Many policies offer worldwide options, but territories and local regulations vary. Some countries require local admitted policies or specific certificates. Confirm this before travel.

Q: How are premiums paid? A: Most are paid upfront, but some insurers allow staged payments for longer projects. Late changes or extensions may adjust premiums and taxes due.

What to do now

If you are planning a UK production, map your risks against the sections in this guide and your contractual requirements. Gather schedules, budgets, and risk assessments, then compare policy options and limits. Take your time, ask questions, and choose cover that fits your project rather than the cheapest headline price.

The right cover is the one that matches your real risks and your documents.

Important note

This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Terms, limits, and exclusions vary by insurer and by project. Always read policy documents carefully and seek professional advice where needed before you purchase.