Press release

Putting film in the spotlight

Plans to create a more sustainable future for the British film industry were announced today by the Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Plans to create a more sustainable future for the British film industry were announced today by Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey.

Speaking to an audience of leading film industry figures Mr Vaizey set out a package of measures to support UK film makers; creating financial stability and a more direct and open relationship with the Government.

The British Film Institute (BFI) will have a key new role as the lead strategic body on film and the distributor of Lottery funds to UK film makers from April 2011. The BFI will also take over responsibility for the work in support of tax credit certification of UK films; overseeing the strategy and public funding to support film in the nations and the regions; and audience development and education.

Mr Vaizey also restated the government’s commitment to maintaining the valuable tax credit for UK films and confirmed that the share for film of Lottery funds will increase from around £27 million to around £43 million annually by 2014.

In addition, building on its existing filming locations service and on its work to support exports of British films internationally, Film London will be given the responsibility for promoting the UK as the best place to invest in film. The industry has agreed to contribute to the strategy and the funding to support inward investment.

Mr Vaizey also announced today:

  • The BFI will reform its governance and management structures.  Detailed plans will be announced by them very shortly.
  • The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and the BFI will lead a review on how to build a more sustainable British film industry and how to develop audiences for British films in the UK. This will include a review of the future priorities for Lottery distribution and the recoupment policy, including the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) proposals.
  • The BFI will work with Film London, BAFTA and BBC Worldwide to consider the role BAFTA and BBC Worldwide could play to support the distribution of British films abroad.
  • The English Regional Screen Agencies outside London are transforming their network into “Creative England”, a simpler, more efficient structure with an expanded remit to support the creative industries across England.

Mr Vaizey said:

“Britain has a vibrant film industry and world renowned skills, expertise, and creativity. The proposals I have announced today will give the industry the financial certainty it needs. The valuable tax credit remains, Lottery funding will increase and the BFI will be the flagship body for the delivery of the UK film policy.

“We have listened to the industry and we know that there is more that we can do to support our talented film-makers and to create a more stable and financially sustainable industry. What we will do now is make sure that our investment in film is properly targeted and transparent. Our biggest challenge is to make sure that the success of British films means success for British film makers. What we have announced today will deliver this.”

Notes to editors

  1. The full speech is available at the DCMS website.
  2. The government has returned the National Lottery to its original good causes, which will bring an additional £50 million each year to the arts. In addition, after 2012, all of the Lottery good causes income will revert to the non-Olympic causes, including the arts.  Combined, this will see the Lottery funding which goes to film increase from around £27 million to around £43 million annually by 2014.
  3. A detailed timetable for the transfer of functions will be published in the new year with an expectation that transfers will be completed by April 2011.

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Published 29 November 2010