The companies selected are those that have a track record of making films that attract box office, critical acclaim and awards.

The UKвЂ™s talent pool вЂ“ so evident as you scan the lists of top directors, producers, DoPs, vfx houses and studios in this film special вЂ“ provides a solid base to make acclaimed UK films and reassures Hollywood that its big budget shoots are in good hands here.Д«elow is a list of the top 40 film production companies in the UK, which has been compiled with help and feedback from a number of leading film producers, agents and film PR executives. Most importantly вЂ“ and as the following pages demonstrate вЂ“ the UK boasts a wealth of world class filmmaking talent and a respected film heritage. In particular, the UK has benefited from the existence of a stable and easily understood film tax credit system that can deliver up to 20% of budgets. The UK does have, however, several factors in its favour that increase its chances of hitting this global jackpot. The jackpot pays out more, but the chances of hitting it are getting less.вЂќ Citing the box office rewards of The Inbetweeners and The KingвЂ™s Speech, he said: вЂњItвЂ™s like a one arm bandit. In particular, financing and getting films made has not become any easier.ДЇormer UK Film Council chairman and ex-Polygram boss Stuart Till summed up the situation neatly last month at a Bafta debate on the future of independent production. The UK is also a magnet for big budget Hollywood shoots, with features such as Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman and John Carter employing thousands of crew.Д«ut itвЂ™s still an industry that remains as tough as ever in which to do business. Home grown hits such as The KingвЂ™s Speech and The Inbetweeners have delivered awards and huge box office. The British film industry is currently enjoying the best of times and the worst of times. To mark the opening day of Cannes, hereвЂ™s an exclusive round up of the UKвЂ™s top 40 film production outfits taken from TelevisualвЂ™s May 2012 issue. (For an updated, 2013 version of this article click here)

Movie production companies