23/08/2010

Pact, the UK trade body for independent film producers, has outlined proposals for a British film industry without the UK Film Council (UKFC).

The body says the three crucial functions of the UKFC – the administration of the tax credit, encouraging inward production and the distribution of funds into development and production of British films – should go to existing public bodies.

They suggest that the administration of the tax credit should return to a Government department, such as the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). To facilitate big budget Hollywood films shooting in the UK, Pact proposes that the role of the British Film Commissioner should be incorporated into an existing Government department or offshoot. Investment in development and production should be administered by the BFI, they recommend.

In short, Pact is saying that the British film industry be run exactly the way it was 10 years ago, before the formation of the UKFC.

Pact CEO John McVay said, “These three core functions for development and production can and should be carried out with minimal administration costs as part of existing bodies. But what is just as crucial is that we acknowledge that funding under the Film Council was not helping to grow a sustainable British film industry, and that we now address this.

“Secretary of State for Culture Jeremy Hunt has recently highlighted the need for British businesses to be able to own and exploit Intellectual Property if the industry is to expand, and we believe our proposals for reforming the terms of public funding for British cinema can deliver precisely this.”