Swansea On Screen: Why The City Is Ready For Its Close Up
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Swansea isn’t just a backdrop; it’s fast becoming a driving force in the transformation of Wales’ screen industry. As production models evolve and budgets tighten, cities like Swansea are uniquely positioned to lead a new wave of cost-effective, creatively rich filmmaking.
With its visual diversity, compact layout, and a growing network of creative professionals, Swansea is more than a location; it’s part of the narrative. While Cardiff may often get the spotlight, on-the-ground momentum is spreading across Wales, and Swansea brings together an untapped combination of visual assets, industry know-how, and community energy that’s helping fuel the future of filmmaking in the region.
A Natural Fit for the Silver Screen
Swansea has already made a name for itself as a popular filming destination. Recent projects include major film releases like Mr Burton; Netflix’s Havoc starring Tom Hardy; and the semi-biographical Set Fire to the Stars about Dylan Thomas – plus series’ like BBC’s Dope Girls; Sky’s A Discovery of Witches, ITV1’s Until I Kill You;andDa Vinci’s Demons – a £20m budget series commissioned by the US based network Starz.
It’s clear from this diverse list, that Swansea’s appeal to filmmakers lies in its remarkable versatility and practicality. The city presents an impressive range of locations – from industrial docks and historic architecture to expansive coastlines and gritty urban landscapes – all of which providing visual diversity within a remarkably compact geography.
Just minutes away, the Gower Peninsula adds even more cinematic potential, with its designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offering dramatic, unspoiled scenery. This seamless blend of urban and rural landscapes allows productions to transition quickly between settings, saving precious time and cost at a time when production budgets are ever-tightening.
Swansea’s strategic position along the M4 gives production teams easy access to Cardiff, Bristol, and London. Meanwhile, local production costs (location fees, accommodation, services) remain significantly lower than in larger cities, making it an ideal base for both indie films and major ‘Hollywood’ productions.
Perhaps most importantly, Swansea’s creative community brings genuine enthusiasm and collaborative spirit. This is a city that doesn’t just support the screen industry – it helps energise it.
"Swansea isn’t just a city—it’s a ready-made film set. From the post-industrial grit of the docks to sweeping coastal panoramas just minutes away, it offers a rare mix of landscapes and textures that give productions enormous visual and narrative flexibility. We’ve seen first-hand how locations here can double for everything from London streets to remote wilderness. There’s a real sense of creative possibility in Swansea—and a local community that truly welcomes production. In an industry where agility and innovation matter more than ever, cities like Swansea can lead the way—not just as locations, but as centres of creative production."
— Gabriella Ricci, Senior Production Executive at Bad Wolf
At the Forefront of a Changing Industry
With dramatic changes in the screen industry in recent years, there has been a distinct shift away from single-source broadcaster funding toward complex, multi-partner financing. Productions today are often funded through a mix of public grants, international partnerships, and private investment, demanding greater agility from producers – and here in Swansea, companies like Severn Screen and Bad Wolf are thriving within this new model, producing ambitious content despite increasingly lean budgets.
Production for Mr. Burton, for instance, took 13 financiers to bring to life. But with stunning landscapes, a standout script, and local talent both in front of and behind the camera, it came together as a true celebration of Welsh creativity. From Hinterland to Steel Town Murders, productions filmed across Wales are putting local stories and communities on screen.
But this growth is also underpinned by strong local investment in skills development, too.
Over 200 trainees have come through initiatives like Screen Alliance Wales (the not-for-profit organisation that recognises the global potential of the film and TV industry in Wales) with an impressive 83% remaining in the industry afterwards. Their targeted initiatives have helped maintain career momentum throughout industry-wide challenges such as the pandemic, and recent writers’ strikes, ensuring the future survival of the industry across the country – and with 93% of programme leavers applying their skills professionally, Wales isn’t just creating content, it’s building a workforce.
So What Comes Next?
Swansea and the surrounding areas offer a rich ecosystem for the screen industry, combining talent pipelines with top-tier support. The region boasts studio facilities, a skilled freelance workforce, leading educational institutions, and accessible locations for diverse filming needs; and now, Creative Swansea will act as a central hub, bringing together industry, education, and local authorities to champion the creative sector and foster long-term growth.
Producers emphasise how essential it is to film in every corner of the country, not just Cardiff or central Wales, but in rural counties too. Recent productions represent far more than creative achievements; they’re powerful evidence of the cultural and economic impact the screen sector brings to the region. By choosing to film here, these projects elevate local talent, services, and a sense of identity.
For Swansea’s screen sector to continue thriving, sustained investment in talent, infrastructure, and visibility is essential, and the launch of the new Creative Swansea network marks a bold step forward; connecting businesses and professionals, showcasing local venues and services, and unlocking new opportunities across the creative and cultural economy.
"It's not an overnight process. It’s a marathon. You need training, support, and people around you saying: you're ready. Let’s go. There’s a powerful creative energy here - and now, the infrastructure to match it."
— Allison Dowzell OBE, Managing Director at Screen Alliance Wales
