The King’s Speech, the Oscar-winning period drama being dubbed the most successful independent British film ever, almost did not get made at all. A host of high-profile production houses turned down the opportunity to back the project, but their loss has become one London investment boutique’s gain.

With the likes of Film 4 and BBC Films opting not to throw any money at the film, London-based Prescience Film Finance stepped in to provide two thirds of the film's £9m budget. The investment was made using the firm's £25m Aegis Film Fund.