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How emerging risks are threatening film productions
Published on June 11, 2026
By Pippa Stone and Holly Nash
Originally published in Insurance Day, 11 June 2026:
From red carpet to risk register
5-minute read
When wildfires swept through parts of Los Angeles in 2025, film and television productions were forced to pause or relocate at short notice.
The fires are part of a global trend in which disruptive risks to film production are becoming more unpredictable and frequent.
Volatile weather, political and social unrest, and economic pressures contributing to higher levels of theft are among the forces changing the risk environment.
As these pressures intensify, could they begin to influence how — and where — productions can safely operate?
Climate volatility is a major factor in the shifting risk landscape. Storms, flooding and wildfires are becoming more common in locations that are popular with film crews, from California to parts of southern Europe. Weather events can prevent cast and crew getting to and from filming locations or result in the unusability of the location.
The UK has a global reputation as one of the world’s leading centres for international film and TV production, with spending at £6.8bn in 2025, up 22% from the year before, according to the British Film Institute.
The UK experienced a record 12 summer storms for the 2023/2024 period. The National Flood Risk assessment organisation estimates 6.3m properties at risk of flooding, set to rise to 8m by the middle of the century. Producers can no longer assume that traditional filming seasons will guarantee stable conditions.
Economic pressures
At the same time, economic pressures are contributing to a rise in organised theft targeting productions. Professional camera kits and specialist technology used on set can be worth hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of pounds.
High-profile examples of thefts include the crime drama from director Guy Ritchie streamed on Paramount+, which made headlines in autumn 2024 when expensive camera equipment was stolen from the set not once, but twice.
There have been violent targeted thefts involving masked thieves in London. When incidents like this occur, not only is there a property claim, but specialist equipment can be difficult for the production company to replace and this can delay filming.
Moreover, there is the safety of the crew to consider.
Political and social tensions are also playing a growing role. Productions may face disruption from protests or civil unrest.
The subject matter of the production or a particular actor can provoke demonstrations, delaying film schedules and potentially triggering claims for disruption or cancellation.
During the Just Stop Oil protests between 2023 and 2025, crews were unable to reach sets on time. Productions also faced equipment delays and missed shooting windows.
In an increasingly volatile world, successful productions will be those that combine creative ambition with sophisticated risk management to ensure they’re Oscar ready.
In January 2025, protestors from the environmental group disrupted The Tempest in London’s West End, starring Sigourney Weaver, with two people arrested after climbing on stage.
Social media also plays a role. It can underpin disruption by quickly mobilising opposition to productions.
When disruption does occur, insurers will work closely with specialist loss adjusters to assess the situation quickly and mitigate further losses.
As disruption becomes more frequent and unpredictable, the ability to anticipate and manage these exposures is becoming increasingly pertinent for both production companies and their insurance partners.
Balancing art with risk
Productions want specific locations and visuals to achieve their artistic goals, but they must balance all this against the outlined risk factors when choosing where to film.
Filming in higher-risk locations or territories can require additional production and underwriting considerations, including security, accommodation safety and local logistics. Major broadcasting companies have global risk management divisions to assess these issues. Smaller or independent productions have access to specialist third-party companies who can advise on risk management and safety.
Although insurers can highlight potential risks through underwriting questions and thereby encourage better planning before filming begins, drawing on external expertise is recommended.
Production companies are using advisory firms in areas such as country political information, weather statistics or predictions, and security to help understand and mitigate risk. In addition, companies incorporate contingency funds into their wider risk planning, complementing other measures to manage potential disruption.
These risk management actions can support production companies in demonstrating their approach to risk, helping insurers tailor terms and conditions that reflect the nature of each project.
Taken together, location choices should be weighed against insurance considerations, operational risks and the potential impact of disruptions.
A changing risk profile
Insurers can work closely with broker partners to ensure knowledge of evolving risk profiles and best practice is effectively shared.
At Markel, this knowledge is communicated through broker briefings and our annual seminar, encouraging brokers to engage with these resources and keep abreast of the changing risk landscape.
Insurers also bring strong research capabilities and the benefit of experience gained from assessing similar incidents.
In short, a deeper understanding of the changing risk profile strengthens communication with clients and enables brokers to guide production companies towards stronger risk management and more informed planning for their projects.
Although careful planning is key, the nature of making a production means some risks cannot be eliminated entirely.
A production may select a seemingly stable location and time of year, only to face unexpected storms, protests or disruption. This uncertainty reinforces the importance of resilience, planning and the need for a comprehensive insurance policy.
In an increasingly volatile world, successful productions will be those that combine creative ambition with sophisticated risk management to ensure they’re Oscar ready.
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