THE figurehead of Scotland's film and TV sector hailed a busy 12 months for the industry - despite the pandemic.

Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, reported a ‘significant increase’ in the level of filming and progress made to improve studio infrastructure.

Ms Davis said they had worked hard to ensure cameras could keep rolling during covid restrictions and that cinemas could reopen safely during the pandemic.

Studio facilities across Scotland have been used for Amazon Prime series The Rig, new Channel 4 prison drama Screw and time-travel fantasy series Outlander.

READ MORE: All the films and TV shows shot in Glasgow in 2021

Last year Glasgow was used as a stand in for New York in the new Indiana Jones movie.

Made-in-Scotland TV dramas launched in 2021 included Vigil, Annika, Guilt, Shetland and Irvine Welsh's debut series Guilt.

An official report on the UK industry published last month estimated that Scotland’s screen sector was worth more than £250 million to the economy by 2019.

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Ms Davis said: “Across 2021, we’ve seen a significant increase in the level of filming in Scotland, with Amazon’s The Rig and Anansi Boys filming at FirstStage Studios, Good Omens at The Pyramids, Indiana Jones taking over Glasgow City Centre, Apple’s Tetris showing Aberdeen’s versatility as it doubled for Moscow and Britbox’s detective drama Crime shooting across Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“Alongside these there were four first feature films - The Origin, Girl, Silent Roar and Aftersun - produced in Scotland with Scottish writers, directors, producers and world-class crew.

“On TV, it’s been a fantastic year for productions made in Scotland including Vigil, which became the biggest new drama launch on BBC One for three years. Annika, Guilt series two, series six of Shetland, Killing Escobar and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates all performed exceptionally well.

"Studio infrastructure looks set to continue to grow next year, with the acquisition of Ward Park Studios by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital, and The Pyramids by London & Regional.

"BBC Studioworks have recently come aboard the Kelvin Hall redevelopment as operators of its forthcoming entertainment studio, which sits alongside the drama/film build space that hosted STV Studios’ Screw.

“Despite the pandemic creating very challenging conditions for us all, we’ve worked together to keep cameras rolling throughout the year, and to ensure festivals and cinemas could open.

"Omicron has made all of that more difficult and serious than it was at the start of December, and we're working with the Scottish Government to deliver support.”