15/09/2010

Industry Summit On UK Film

Key figures from the UK film industry will meet with Culture Minister Ed Vaizey today to discuss the future of Government support for film.

Mr Vaizey has called together the experts to hear their views on how public money can best be used to stimulate a thriving and sustainable industry.

The round table meeting will see all sectors of the industry give their opinions on how the key functions of the UK Film Council can best be carried out in future. The Government announced in July that the UK Film Council would be abolished as part of the cross-government drive to reform public bodies, increase accountability and reduce their number and cost.

Ed Vaizey said: "There is no question that public support for film is continuing. Indeed, the major investment through lottery funding will increase from next year and the valuable film tax credit remains.

"I want a robust and coordinated strategy to promote the UK as the best place to invest in film making and to provide real support and advice to film makers and investors alike. I want to make sure that public funds generate value for a wider audience and are focused where they can really make a difference."

Today's meeting will be the first of a series of meetings and workshops to address the key areas where Government supports the film industry. It will focus on options for the future distribution of lottery funding to UK film and the administration of the Film Tax Relief Certification process. It will be attended by senior representatives from across the industry, including funders, exhibitors, studios, producers, directors and broadcasters.

It is intended that a decision on future Government support for film will be made later this autumn.

(BMcN)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 January 2012
UK Film Urged To Go Mainstream
Comments made by Britain’s Prime Minister, that urged the UK film industry to become more "mainstream" ahead of a review on the UK’s film policy next Monday, have been met with criticism.
13 October 2003
Lottery-backed UK films net £125m in receipts
National Lottery investments in the UK film industry has generated box office takings of over £125 million, new figures released today have revealed. Overall, £13 million of Lottery funding invested by the UK Film Council has generated £125.
19 July 2004
UK film industry worth a billion dollars in 2003
The top 10 UK films at the international box office scooped more than a billion dollars between them last year, according to a UK Film Council report published today.
28 November 2003
Film Council study finds post-production sector generates £1.4b for UK economy
British film industry creative and technical expertise has helped to generate £1.39 billion and 15,000 jobs in the UK economy, a major new report published by the Film Council has revealed.
29 November 2010
UK Industry Bankrolls Inbound Films
An increase in National Lottery funds and an emphasis on funding from within the UK movie industry itself are to bankroll the British Film Institute (BFI) as it assumes the former international marketing role of the UK Film Council (UKFC).