From Shed to Cannes: Croydon Film Rise 2026

Key Points

• Marcus Hundsnes, Norwegian-born co-founder of post-production firm Disauthority, has chosen Croydon as the base for his company’s visual effects and colour grading facility.
• Disauthority started in Hundsnes’s grandmother’s shed in Wallington before moving into custom-built office space just a short walk from Croydon Town Hall.
• The company now operates a high-end visual effects and colour grading suite “lined with high-end equipment” in Croydon, according to Hundsnes.
• Hundsnes says the borough offered something other locations did not, making the decision to base Disauthority in Croydon “super straightforward” despite some industry scepticism.
• Disauthority’s work has reached international stages including Cannes, illustrating how a South London borough is gaining a foothold in the global film industry.
• The story highlights a broader trend of film and creative businesses using Croydon’s infrastructure, transport links, and lower-cost space to build a “UK’s Hollywood”.
• The development is being framed by local media as part of Croydon’s emergence as a creative hub, with film companies like Disauthority at the centre of that narrative.

Croydon (South London News) July 6, 2026, creative sector for mylondon.news, Marcus Hundsnes explained that the company’s origins were humble: Disauthority was launched with two friends in his grandmother’s shed in Wallington before upgrading to dedicated office space in Croydon. From that starting point, the firm has developed a custom-built visual effects and colour grading facility in Croydon,

“lined with high-end equipment and just a short walk from Croydon Town Hall”.

Hundsnes described the move from the shed to a professional base as a natural progression, emphasising that the decision to operate from Croydon was “super straightforward” despite puzzling some in the film industry. The company’s growth trajectory – from a domestic shed to a facility capable of supporting work that reaches Cannes – is presented as evidence that Croydon can serve as a viable alternative to traditional London film centres.

Why Did Marcus Hundsnes Choose Croydon Over Other Film Locations?

According to reporting from mylondon.news, Hundsnes is often asked why he chose to base Disauthority in Croydon, with many in the industry still questioning the decision. He acknowledges that

“a lot of people think I’m crazy to set up an office in Croydon”,

but counters that the borough offered specific advantages that other locations did not.

Although the original text does not list those advantages in detail, the context of the article suggests that factors such as proximity to central London, access to transport links, comparatively affordable space, and the presence of a growing creative community have made Croydon attractive for post-production and visual effects work.

Hundsnes’s insistence that the choice was “super straightforward” implies that, for him, the trade-offs between Croydon and more traditional film hubs were clear and favourable.

How Is Disauthority’s Croydon Base Shaping the Borough’s Film Identity?

Local reporting frames Disauthority as a poster example of how Croydon is becoming a significant player in the UK film industry. The headline

“From grandma’s shed to Cannes – how Croydon film company is helping borough become UK’s Hollywood”

directly positions the company as a key contributor to this emerging identity. By operating a high-end visual effects and colour grading suite in the borough, Disauthority is helping to anchor post-production activity in Croydon, rather than concentrating it solely in established West London or central London areas.

The company’s international reach – evidenced by work associated with Cannes – is used to illustrate that Croydon-based firms can compete on a global stage.

This narrative supports a broader local story that Croydon is not just a suburban borough but a potential creative and industrial hub for film and related media sectors.

How Are Other Film and Creative Businesses Using Croydon’s Infrastructure?

While the available text focuses on Disauthority, the framing of the story implies that other film and creative businesses are also leveraging Croydon’s infrastructure to build their operations.

The phrase “helping borough become UK’s Hollywood” suggests that Disauthority is part of a cluster of companies contributing to a wider transformation of the area into a film-friendly environment.

In practical terms, this likely involves using Croydon’s transport connections to London and beyond, accessing local office and studio space, and tapping into a growing network of creative professionals in the borough.

The presence of a custom-built visual effects and colour grading facility

“just a short walk from Croydon Town Hall”

further signals that the area is being developed as a concentrated creative quarter, with film companies physically close to civic and business infrastructure.

What Does This Development Mean for Croydon’s Creative Economy and Community?

The emergence of companies like Disauthority in Croydon raises the possibility of increased employment opportunities in post-production, visual effects, colour grading, and related technical roles.

As reported in the mylondon.news article, the company’s high-end facility and international work suggest that skilled, specialised roles are being created within the borough rather than only in traditional London film districts.

This could also support local training and education initiatives, with film companies potentially collaborating with colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programmes to develop the next generation of technicians and creative professionals.

The narrative of turning Croydon into “UK’s Hollywood” implies long-term investment in the creative economy, which may include support for skills development and youth engagement in film and media.

What Are the Potential Impacts on Local Culture and Place Identity?

From a cultural perspective, the growth of a film and post-production sector in Croydon could strengthen the borough’s identity as a creative destination.

The story of a company rising from a Wallington shed to Cannes-level work is likely to resonate locally, reinforcing a sense that Croydon can produce internationally significant creative output.

This may also influence how the borough is perceived externally, with film companies and their work contributing to a narrative of Croydon as a dynamic, innovative place rather than just a residential or commuter area.

The physical presence of high-end facilities near Croydon Town Hall further embeds film activity into the civic landscape, making it part of the everyday identity of the town centre.

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Background: The Development of Disauthority and Croydon’s Film Ambitions

According to mylondon.news reporting, Disauthority was founded by Marcus Hundsnes and two friends, initially operating from Hundsnes’s grandmother’s shed in Wallington.

The company later moved into dedicated office space in Croydon, where it established a custom-built visual effects and colour grading facility equipped with high-end technology.

Hundsnes, who is Norwegian-born, has publicly stated that he was often questioned about his choice to base the company in Croydon, with some industry figures viewing the decision as unconventional.

Despite this, he describes the choice as “super straightforward”, indicating that practical considerations such as cost, location, and local infrastructure outweighed concerns about moving away from more traditional film hubs.

Croydon’s Emergence as a Creative and Film Hub

The broader context of the story is Croydon’s ambition to develop a stronger creative and film identity. The headline’s reference to “UK’s Hollywood” signals an effort to position the borough as a significant location for film production, post-production, and related creative industries.

Disauthority’s presence and growth are framed as a tangible example of this ambition taking shape, with the company’s international work serving as evidence that Croydon-based firms can operate at a global level.

Local media coverage of Disauthority suggests that the borough is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to established London film centres, with companies leveraging its transport links, space, and emerging creative network.

This narrative aligns with wider urban development strategies that emphasise culture, creativity, and media as key drivers of economic growth and place branding.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Croydon Residents, Creative Workers, and Local Businesses

If Croydon continues to attract and support film and post-production companies like Disauthority, residents may see a gradual shift in the local economy towards more creative and technical roles.

The growth of high-end facilities near the town centre could increase the demand for skilled workers, potentially opening opportunities for local residents to work in visual effects, colour grading, and related fields without needing to move to West London or central London.

However, this transformation may also bring pressures, such as increased competition for office and studio space, possible changes in local property values, and the need for better support for training and education to ensure that local people can access these new roles.

The extent of benefit will depend on how effectively local institutions, employers, and councils coordinate to create inclusive pathways into the creative sector.

Implications for Creative Workers, Start-Ups, and Small Businesses

For creative workers and small businesses, the development of a film and post-production cluster in Croydon could provide new opportunities for collaboration, subcontracting, and shared resources.

Companies like Disauthority may require support from smaller design, audio, marketing, and tech firms, creating a network of interdependent businesses that can grow together.

Start-ups and independent creatives may also find Croydon more accessible than traditional London film districts, with potentially lower costs for office or studio space and easier access to transport links.

Over time, this could encourage a more diverse range of voices and projects to emerge from the borough, contributing to a richer and more varied local creative scene.

Long-Term Outlook for Croydon’s Film Sector and Place Branding

In the longer term, if the current trajectory continues, Croydon could become a recognised name in the UK film industry, particularly in post-production and visual effects.

The “UK’s Hollywood” narrative, supported by companies with international reach, may help attract further investment, talent, and partnerships to the borough.

Whether this leads to sustained growth will depend on ongoing support from local government, continued investment in infrastructure and training, and the ability of companies like Disauthority to maintain and expand their operations. If these conditions are met, Croydon’s film sector could play a significant role in shaping the borough’s economic and cultural future over the next decade.