UK Film Council Consulation: Directors UK response

The UK Film Council recently completed a public consultation into its proposed policy and funding priorities for the next three years, the most significant revision of their activities since the UK Film Council was set up in 2000. Directors UK responded, and you can view our submission here.

The UKFC released their document UK Film: Digital innovation and creative excellence, which sets out proposals for their policy and funding priorities for April 2010 to March 2013, and launched a three month public consultation into these. Their core priorities are cited as: protecting production funding, supporting filmmakers, safeguarding film culture and promoting digital innovation.

The proposals outlined in the consultation document include:

a new £15m Film Production Fund which has four distinct creative gatekeepers, is focused on the pursuit of creative excellence and puts more emphasis on first- and second-time filmmakers;

a new space and funding stream to support experimental filmmaking;

a producer equity position in all UK Film Council-funded feature films;

a minimum 25% target for non-London originated film production;

a new £5m Innovation Fund, to promote new business models and ensure UK film's successful transition into a fully digital age;

sustained investment in the BFI, to support the conservation of UK film heritage and improve access to film culture;

a renewed emphasis on attracting inward investment to the UK film sector and underlining the continued importance of the Film Tax Relief;

prioritising skills training for new technologies and post-production;

additional funding to support the industry in combating film theft;

continued support for film distribution and audience-focused initiatives;

and an ongoing commitment to achieving a more diverse and inclusive workforce and film culture.

The UK Film Council asked for views from people from across the film sector on their proposals, which were made within the context of the current challenging times – a major economic downturn which is adversely affecting film financing, rapid technological change and the collapse of traditional business models. In addition, the UK Film Council is losing £25m over the next three years to the 2012 Olympic Games. Separate to the consultation process itself, the UKFC is also cutting its overheads by 20% to push more money into front-line film activity.

To read the full consultation document click here.