We return to our Studios Spotlight series with a look behind the scenes of Farnborough International Studios, and hear from studio director Rachel Morrison about all that is on offer to producers and filmmakers within easy reach of London.

Background

Farnborough International Studios is located in the south-east of England [Hampshire], in easy reach for the creative industries being within 40 miles of London.

The site offers over 210,000 sq ft stage space, 1,000,000 sq ft unit base facilities and 3,500 parking spaces, plus ancillary areas and facilities. Farnborough International Studios also sits within a high-end events space, providing extensive additional exhibition areas and locations and operated by the same team that organises the iconic Farnborough International Airshow, and runs Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, exhibitions and events were unable to take place. It was then that Farnborough International embraced its filming services and opportunities, pivoting to support the industry’s robust and agile response to the pandemic with Covid monitors and regular testing, and founding a new arm of its business – Farnborough International Studios.

Filming took place across the campus within our internal spaces with blockbusters, from a five-month shoot for Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw to a full street-build for the Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast standing set.

With the subsequent increase in demand for filming, two 22,000 sq ft, semi-permanent sound stages were built in 2021. These incredible structures offer a full gantry set up with 37.7 ft height to the reds, 75 hoists to support flats and set pieces, full three-phase electrical capability and extraction ventilation to support pyros on set.

Following the success of filming throughout the site, in 2024, the two dedicated sound stages were purchased by Farnborough International and so we now have a full and vibrant site for productions to take advantage of our 210,000 sq ft of shooting spaces and our extensive production offices that support projects of all sizes.

Production credits

Since 2020, it has been great for us to host a range of films and high-end TV series both in the stages and across the wider campus including Mission: Impossible – Fallout; Kraven the Hunter; Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw, to name a few.

We also offered Tom Cruise the opportunity to fly into Farnborough Airport, the largest business aviation airport onsite, adjacent to the studios, and then to shoot Mission Impossible: Fallout with us.

Most recently in the same space, Hall 5 (Studio 4) we have filmed We Live In Time [a love story starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh that came out in early January this year].

We can support large-scale features and HETV dramas: within our sound stages we have hosted multi-million-dollar films like Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire to dramas Inside Man [BBC and Netflix] and The Devil’s Hour (Prime Video).

Non-scripted projects include Optomen’s Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out and talking heads for the most recent BBC One, 2011 Bombings documentary.

Given that a number of our exhibition spaces can double as filming locations, we offer options on site that can ‘play’ airport lobbies, conference areas and high-class dining areas.

In addition to our sound stages and internal filming areas, we have a huge amount of parking and external spaces, so can support multi-sized unit bases to film locally.

We have supported a variety of bases from Greenland: Migration to SAS Rogue Heroes. Our private roads throughout the site can also support stunt filming and driving shoots and we have supported productions with their requirements within this field.

Industry trends and training pipeline

We have seen an increase in the uptake of studio enquiries due to the new tax incentives – the most recent feature film that shot with us from August – December 2024 wouldn’t have been with us if it were not for the government’s support.

We have also seen how the new government in the US has impacted enquiries in this country. We are currently within a volatile time in the filming industry and are often impacted by the UK and US economic stability, but are looking forward to the future as the tax incentives and the government’s commitment to support creative industries is implemented.

We have been really proud to take advantage of the training and funding opportunities that the government has offered.

In partnership with Hampshire County Council, we have already offered one skills bootcamp to support enhanced learning for those stepping up to be 3rd assistant director, and in March we will welcome a new cohort of individuals on our upcoming runners course.

The launch of the Farnborough International Studio Skills Academy in partnership with All Spring Media, offers the opportunity to learn from those working in the industry with an aim for guaranteed work placements at the end of the course.

Standout features

Farnborough International Studios is a boutique site that offers a dedicated team to support productions from soft prep to shoot, delivery and derig.

We offer great facilities with well-appointed production spaces that can support any production team, whatever size. We are well situated, balancing a close proximity to London with providing much more space for your money.

By being close to a private airport, we can offer total discretion to crew and cast that fly in for their scenes and have good links with hotels and amenities in the area to provide affordable accommodation for both high end and lower end requirements.

With our vast range of internal and external spaces, we know we can support any production and are always keen to see how we can go above and beyond to support creatives within our facilities.

Sustainability strategy

Farnborough International has a Destination Zero commitment to becoming a leading sustainable business and studios site, operating under sustainability best practices in the aim to operate with net zero carbon emissions.

We are looking to get our sustainable studios accreditation this year and have just gone in for our Albert sustainable supplier status.

We currently have a large solar panel across Hall 1 which supports the site with 30% of power of our annual electricity needs. We work closely with all our productions to ensure operationally sustainable practices are offered and supported from offering charitable avenues for prop donation to ensuring waste is managed and recycled.

As an operations team, we will always find a way to support and enhance a production’s Albert or Green Production submission, and are committed to a process of continuous exploration to provide sustainable solutions for productions that shoot with us.

The future for production in Farnborough

The future is bright! Over recent years Farnborough International Studios has become a proven filming hub for productions of all sizes. There are numerous additional filming locations across Hampshire, Surrey and surrounding areas are within a 15-mile radius of the studios and present diverse and adaptable options for period and contemporary properties, as well as build spaces and doubles for overseas locations.

Nearby locations such as Farnborough Airport, Farnborough Wind Tunnels, Bramshill House, Minley Manor, Blackbushe Airport, Bourne Wood, Wellington College, Ascot Racecourse and McLaren Technology Centre, have been used in features such as Marvel’s Avengers, The Gladiator, World War Z, Black Widow, The Kingsman and many more.

The local area is also well served with excellent accommodation, transport and leisure facilities, from high-end to more budget friendly options. We have also seen more of the supporting creative community and businesses setup within the area to support the growing production needs.

The studios offer close links with our local filming offices and of course Creative England and working with our local authorities we are building opportunities and awareness of filming locations to support productions with their location requests to ensure they are local, more convenient to their base and with minimal travel, also therefore being more sustainable.

What’s next?

We look forward to welcoming a range of productions in 2025 as well as continuing to develop and invest in the site’s infrastructure and offering.

With more skills bootcamps we look forward to investing in our local workforce and providing opportunities to our community whilst offering a range of local skilled workforce. In addition, we look forward to enhancing our sustainable practices as we push for our suppliers to be as sustainable as possible and develop our own sustainability strategy further.

With many thanks to studio director Rachel Morrison. For more on Farnborough International Studios, click here.

All images via Farnborough International Studios.

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