Olsberg•SPI Chairman Jonathan Olsberg has today contributed a guest comment to Screendaily.com on the importance of studios as the cornerstone of a territory's film-making offer.

Jonathan Olsberg, Chairman of Olsberg•SPI, has been hired as the international assessor to evaluate applications for the NZFC’s new Business Development Scheme, which aims to enhance the development of New Zealand screen businesses by providing up to NZ$1m of working capital for a selected number of companies.

With company sustainability a vital issue for independent media businesses everywhere, Olsberg•SPI has been engaged by the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) to assess the landscape for such companies in Canada.

Olsberg•SPI has been retained by the British Film Institute (BFI) to review key international territories for the UK’s burgeoning high-end television, games and animation sectors.

Olsberg•SPI recently completed an extensive independent evaluation of the Council of Europe's Eurimages Fund, with the study resulting in a number of recommendations.

Olsberg•SPI is conducting a major economic impact analysis of Europe’s fiscal incentives for the European Audiovisual Observatory. am includes the UK’s Landman Economics.

Several Olsberg•SPI team members will be attending the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival between February 6-12 including Chairman Jonathan Olsberg, Associate Director Andrew Barnes and Research Associate Leon Forde.

Olsberg•SPI’s Chairman will deliver a keynote address at Göteborg’s Nostradamus event on January 31, an initiative that aims to document and aggregate industry changes and prophecy the future.

Screen Yorkshire announced today that it has secured a further £7.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to invest in Yorkshire-based film, television and digital content through the Yorkshire Content Fund.

Having already completed an interim evaluation of its Yorkshire Content Fund, Olsberg•SPI was retained by Screen Yorkshire and Leeds City Council to develop a strategy for the city’s creative media sector.

In May 2013 the Council of Europe commissioned Olsberg•SPI to evaluate its Eurimages Fund. In November, Olsberg•SPI completed a detailed study that provides a 360-degree assessment of the Fund’s performance.

The BFI has launched an ambitious new international strategy aimed at helping UK film achieve maximum economic growth and cultural reach in the global marketplace by 2017 – a key aim of the BFI’s five year plan, Film Forever.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia has announced a new fiscal production rebate of 30% for local and foreign film makers.

Jonathan Olsberg was interviewed live on Swedish television daily news programme ‘Aktuellt’ about the recent successes enjoyed by Swedish films and filmmakers

With a view to making recommendations for the future of the Hong Kong exhibition sector, Olsberg•SPI and Hong Kong’s F Media undertook a study of various overseas strategies to promote cinema development.

Olsberg•SPI has delivered on behalf of the Council of Europe an evaluation of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production.

Olsberg•SPI has drawn on its expertise in the global production arena to produce an article for the Berlin edition of Film Business Asia.

Following the delivery of our report on the development of the Mauritian screen industry, Olsberg•SPI has been retained by the Mauritius Board of Investment to support its implementation.

In order to assist the BFI in developing its international strategy, Olsberg•SPI in association with David Steele has analysed more than 30 territories worldwide, focusing on their potential for the UK film industry.

Olsberg•SPI and Hong Kong's F Media have been hired as the international experts examining the condition of Hong Kong’s exhibition sector.