Press Release Archive

Please use the links below to go directly to a press release in which you are interested.

NEWS RELEASE: 29/10/07

FUTURE OF FILM ARCHIVES SECURED

As the curtain opened on the Times BFI 51st London Film Festival, Culture Secretary James Purnell announced that the UK Film Council (UKFC) had been awarded £25 million to safeguard the future of the UK’s national and regional film archives. This £25 million fund is in addition to £3 million from the UK Film Council for the UK Digital Film Archive Fund. It will enable the UK Film Council to implement its screen heritage strategy to preserve the visual memory of the UK and ensure access for all. Read all about it here

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NEWS RELEASE: 29/10/07

Changes to the UK Film Council’s Development Fund from 1 October 2007

Tanya Seghatchian took over as the Head of the Development Fund at the UK Film Council earlier this year and has spent the last few months reviewing the fund and its practices, in line with both the UK Film Council’s policies and objectives and her own experience of working in film in the UK.

The published goal of the UK Film Council’s Development Fund is `to broaden the quality, range and ambition of film projects being developed in the UK’. Tanya wants to try and use her time at the UK Film Council to help build as dynamic and talent-driven a home for writers, directors and producers as she can.

Tanya has devised a thorough action plan for the fund which can be accessed here

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NEWS RELEASE: 10/08/07

£500,000 FOR INDEPENDENT LOCAL CINEMAS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND FACILITIES

Independent cinemas across the UK will be able to apply for Lottery funding to update their buildings, improve facilities, and boost access for audiences with sensory impairments, the UK Film Council announced on 1 August 2007.

The £500,000 Capital and Access Fund for Cinemas has been set up to ensure high standards of cinema facilities around the country, improve the cinema-going experience for the public, and increase access for people with sensory impairments. The fund will assist cinema operators with capital projects, particularly where the works are considered essential to the cinema’s continued existence, or of benefit to audiences that may currently be excluded such as improving access for disabled cinema-goers.

Independent cinemas (those in a circuit of fewer than nine cinemas) have until 30 November 2007 to apply for funding of up to 50% of the cost of the project, subject to a maximum award of £50,000.

Cinemas can apply for funding for capital projects such as:

• improving facilities at the cinema
• buying and installing new technology and equipment (including audio-description and subtitling equipment)
• converting existing buildings for use as cinemas and/or additional screens
• new build for cinemas.

Improving access to the cinema experience for audiences with sensory impairments is a core objective of the Capital and Access Fund. There are nearly 9 million people in the UK with some kind of hearing loss and around 2 million who are blind or partially sighted. The UK Film Council believes that provision could be much better. It is anticipated, therefore, that a significant number of awards under the scheme will be towards ‘Cinema Access Equipment’ i.e. soft subtitling and audio description kit.

This Capital and Access Fund for Cinemas builds on previous funding – the Small Capital Fund where more than £700,000 was allocated to independent cinemas for capital projects – and the Cinema Access Programme when £350,000 was made available for subtitling and audio-description equipment.

Peter Buckingham, Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film council said:

“We hope this funding will help small, local cinemas to remain at the heart of their communities offering all audiences access to fresh and exciting films in a comfortable environment.

“Facilities for cinema-goers with hearing and sight impairments have improved over recent years but are still too patchy, that’s why we are hoping to fund a number of cinemas to improve their access.”

To read the guidelines and find out how to apply click here

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NEWS RELEASE: 10/08/07

UK Film Industry Contributes £4.3 billion to UK economy

The UK film industry contributed £4.3 billion to UK GDP in 2006, up from £3.1 billion in 2004, a 39% increase in two years according to an independent report by Oxford Economics published on 23rd July. This figure takes account of the widespread contribution made by the UK film industry to the economy including revenues made through employment, production and servicing through to profits from worldwide exploitation, exports, merchandising and UK tourism.
The UK film industry has grown significantly – from an average of 43 films per year made in the 1980s to 120 a year since 2000.
The report also confirms that the Government’s new film tax relief is working well, keeping the UK competitive and supporting the growth of a thriving film sector. As a result, the UK is expected to attract around 11% of global film production over the period to 2010 with inward investment rising to about £800 million by 2010.
The report – The Economic Impact of the UK film Industry – finds that film contributes to ‘UK plc’ in a number of ways including:
• Employment - the UK film industry employs 33,500 people directly (similar to book publishing and IT hardware) and supports 95,000 jobs in total. Employment has risen steadily since the mid-1990s with a 70% increase in production sector jobs since 1996 creating an extra 7,700 full-time jobs.
• Tourism - films depicting the UK are responsible for attracting about 1 in 10 overseas tourists, spending around £1.8 billion a year. This is estimated to be worth around £900 million to UK GDP.
• Environment – the film industry is one of the UK’s most carbon-friendly sectors. Its emissions per £1,000 of GDP contribution are estimated to be only half those of the economy as a whole.
• Investment – capital investment in the UK film industry is estimated to have been £120 million in 2006. Since 2000, fixed capital investment in infrastructure and new technology has totalled around £635 million.
• Exports – total exports of the film industry were £967 million in 2005, with a net contribution of £163 million to UK balance of payments.
• Merchandising associated with UK films is thought to have supported about 6,500 jobs in 2006 with a £235 million contribution to GDP.
• Multiplier effect - for every 10 jobs directly supported by the UK film industry another 10 are supported indirectly in the supply chain.
• Culturally British films are important to UK audiences. A film shown in the UK can expect its box office to be up to 30% higher if it is indigenous. UK films boosted box office revenues by more than £50 million a year over the last decade.

The film industry also benefits other creative industries for instance through R&D which drives technological innovation. For example, the investment made by visual effects company Framestore CFC in new CGI technology for the Harry Potter films was subsequently used by the BBC on Walking with Dinosaurs.

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council said:
“This new report shows that the UK film industry is a major contributor to the UK economy making films that UK and international audiences want to see and generating financial and cultural benefits. Thanks to our world class film facilities and phenomenal skills and talent, backed by Government and industry investment, the British film industry is strong and primed for further growth.”

Ivan Dunleavy, Chief Executive of Pinewood Shepperton plc said:
"The UK is increasingly seen as a creative hub and one of the few worldwide centres of excellence. This position will be strengthened over the coming years given its commitment to training, innovation, capital investment and infrastructure. The Oxford Economics report demonstrates clear and irrefutable evidence of the tangible benefits that UK film and the creative industries as a whole bring to the economy."

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NEWS RELEASE: 24/07/07

BRITAIN LOVES FILM AND THE WORLD LOVES OUR FILMS

UK box office takings jump 56% in ten years
Audience for film on TV hits 3.3 billion
Films based on stories by UK writers earn $13 billion in five years
International demand for Brit films up as film exports reach 11 year high

Britain is a nation of film lovers with box office takings up 56% in the last ten years; British films are popular overseas with exports at an eleven year high; and British creative talent is in demand across the world, according to a new report published on 13th July by the UK Film Council.

Compiled by the UK Film Council’s Research and Statistics Unit, the report presents the most comprehensive picture of the British film industry in 2006 covering everything from cinema-going and audience taste, to exhibition and exports. Read all about it here

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NEWS RELEASE: 30/04/07

THE UK FILM COUNCIL’S P&A FUND INCREASES VIEWING CHOICES WITH AWARDS FOR SPECIALISED FILMS

LONDON _ Tuesday 17th April 2007.

A wide variety of foreign, arthouse and classic films have received Lottery funding from the UK Film CouncilÅfs P&A Fund. Its most recent round of awards to film distributors continues to help gain exposure for films which might otherwise only have a limited distribution, thereby increasing viewing choice for audiences.

Universal Pictures International received £300,000 for Yimou Zhang’s award-winning and Oscar-nominated The Curse of the Golden Flower, a period drama-tragedy set in the royal court of 10th century China. Shot in Mandarin with subtitles, the film was released on 13 April, with the award covering the cost of premieres, increasing a combination of 35mm and digital prints from 150 to 223, and enhancing the national media advertising on television and in print.

Optimum Releasing received two awards, of £150,000 for Patrice Leconte’s My Best Friend, and £90,000 for Shane Meadows’s critically acclaimed This Is England.

My Best Friend, a French film with subtitles, stars Daniel Auteuil as a Parisian art dealer in a comic genre piece offering a meditation on the nature of friendship. The award enabled the proposed release of the film on 11 April to spread from 15 to 50 screens, and the film was formatted for digital distribution through the Digital Screen Network. The media campaign was also increased through television and online advertising.

Meanwhile Shane Meadows’s This is England is a portrait of Britain in the 1980s, focusing on a depressed suburban Midlands and the emergence of the National Front. Nominated for seven British Independent Film Awards, the film has already made an impact at festivals and will be released on April 27. The award will expand the film’s release from 20 to 70 screens; an additional 20 prints will be purchased and the formatting of the film for digital distribution will allow for up to 150 deliveries to DSN sites. The media campaign will also be increased and will include print, television and online advertising.

Park Circus has also received two awards, of £5,000 for Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s classic musical Guys and Dolls, and £5,000 for Stephen Frears’s controversial classic Prick up Your Ears.

Guys and Dolls, the award-winning, Oscar-nominated Technicolour musical is set in the gambling world of 1950s New York, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra among others. The film is re-released on 13 July, and the award will be used for digital encoding encryption and distribution which will allow the wider exploitation of the film through the DSN.

Prick up Your Ears is Stephen Frears’s powerful, award-winning portrait of playwright Joe Orton, played by Gary Oldman, from his early years in Leicester to his murder in 1967 by his partner Kenneth Halliwell. It was re-released on 6 April and the award enabled the film to be released digitally as well as on 35mm.

Axiom Films International received £5,000 for Ryan Fleck’s award-winning and Oscar-nominated Half Nelson, about an inner-city teacher struggling with addiction who forms an unlikely bond with a student who catches him in a compromising position. An independent American film, Half Nelson will be released on 20 April, with the award used to create a digital master to enable a further 20 bookings.

Yume Pictures received £5,000 for Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo’s award-winning debut The Night of the Sunflowers, to be released May 11. A Spanish film with subtitles, it is told in six parts from the point of view of six different characters in rural Spain, in the middle of the mountains and dying rural villages of Castilla-León. The award will be applied to creating 15 bookings through digitisation and 35mm prints.

Verve Pictures received £4,937 for Stephen Kijak’s Scott Walker – 30 Century Man. A documentary about the enigmatic and influential singer which is released on 27 April, the award will be applied to broaden the release using digital distribution and 35mm prints.

Punk Cinema received £4,920 for Richard Bracewell’s The Gigolos, which tells the story of a gigolo and his valet, and their search for love and friendship in the twilight world of the London male escort. The film was released on March 23, and the award was used to enable greater digital and 35mm exploitation of the film, meaning the distributor could offer the film on short bookings to DSN cinemas across the country.

Artificial Eye received £1,280 for Abderrahmane Sissako’s Bamako, which was released on February 23. A foreign language film with subtitles depicting a drama set in Haiti, the funding enabled the distributor to supply a number of additional short run bookings on the film through digital.

P&A Fund awards
The Curse of the Golden Flower £300,000
My Best Friend £150,000
This Is England £90,000
Guys and Dolls £5,000
Prick Up Your Ears £5,000
Half Nelson £5,000
The Night of the Sunflowers £5,000
Scott Walker – 30 Century Man £4,937
The Gigolos £4,920
Bamako £1,280


A list of the UK Film Council's National Lottery awards can be found on our website at www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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NEWS RELEASE: 23/04/07

BOND AND PIRATES JOIN EXCLUSIVE £50 MILLION FILM CLUB

Casino Royale and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest break through £50 million barrier at UK box office in 2006

LONDON – 23 April 2007: Casino Royale and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest have catapulted into the top ten highest grossing films at the UK box office taking more than £50 million each in 2006, according to new figures released today by the UK Film Council.

Casino Royale is the most commercially successful Bond to date – taking just three weeks to surpass Die Another Day’s final total of £36 million.

Only eight other films have ever broken through the £50 million barrier.

The top ten highest grossing films at the all time UK box office are:
Film UK Box Office Total

1. Titanic (1998) £69,025,646

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
(2001) £66,096,060

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(2001) £63,009,288

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003) £61,062,348

5. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(2002) £57,600,094

6. Casino Royale (2006) £55,504,945

7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(2002) £54,780,731

8. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
(2006) £52,515,550

9. The Full Monty (1997) £52,232,058

10. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
(1999) £51,063,811

The UK Film Council’s new research and statistics bulletin provides the latest data and market intelligence on film in the UK.

The top 20 UK films grossed £151 million at the box office in 2006 with Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, Flushed Away, The Queen, Stormbreaker, Children of Men, The History Boys and The Wind that Shakes the Barley the most popular. The latter proved to be Ken Loach’s most successful film to date whilst also picking up the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival.

The bulletin also reveals that a total of £762 million was taken at the UK box office in 2006, 1% down on 2005, while admissions stood at 157 million, down 5% on last year, partly due to World Cup fever and record temperatures.

Turning to the small screen, there has been a gradual decline in the number of films shown on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4 over the last 10 years - down from 2807 in 1997 to 2011 films in 2006. One in five films broadcast on television last year was British. However, the proportion of recent UK films (less than 8 years old) shown on the main networks has increased over the last 5 years from 2.8% in 2002 to 5.2% last year. Recent British films shown on BBC1 have more than doubled in five years from 3.8% in 2002 to 8.2% in 2006.

Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, John Woodward said:

“British filmmakers make brilliant films which audiences flock to see, that’s why Casino Royale jumped straight into the £50 million club.

“Last year’s most successful British films at the UK box office demonstrate the sheer range and style of film we can make, from high concept visual effects productions to films which reflect British culture and history.”

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NEWS RELEASE: 16/04/07

THE SCRIPT CONNECTION TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK SERVICE FOR UK FILM COUNCIL SCRIPT PROJECTS

Consultancy company The Script Connection has been appointed to provide a feedback service to applicants to the UK Film Council’s Development Fund.

The Development Fund ensures that those applicants who do not receive awards can subsequently receive an independent assessment of their scripts free of charge, a valuable tool for writers who may wish to use this resource to help develop their projects further.

As the feedback service provider, The Script Connection will bring an industry focus to an applicant’s material, concentrate on craft and technique, challenge creativity, and encourage innovation and individuality in writers.

The Script Connection is headed by development professionals and training providers Lisa Neeley and Richard Tindall. Their team works closely with writers and clients involved in all areas of feature film development whose aim is to deliver professionally executed material with real commercial value.

Natalie Wreyford, Senior Development Executive at the UK Film Council commented, “The Script Connection’s range of services is exceptional in that they serve the needs of the UK industry as well as individual writers. We’re delighted that they’re now providing the Development Fund’s feedback service.”

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NEWS RELEASE: 21/03/07

MORE CHOICE FOR AUDIENCES WITH SPECIALISED FILMS AWARDED LOTTERY FUNDING BY THE UK FILM COUNCIL

A wide range of films including features, documentaries and a classic have recently received Lottery funding from the UK Film Council's P&A Fund.

This latest round of awards to film distributors continue to help gain more exposure for specialised, foreign and arthouse films which might otherwise only have a limited distribution, increasing viewing choice for audiences.

Lionsgate UK was awarded £250,000 for Florian Henkel von Donnersmarck's award-winning feature, winner of the Best Foreign Language film Oscar®, The Lives of Others, released on 13 April. A German film, it is an intriguing thriller and moving love story set in GDR-era East Germany about a Stasi agent assigned to a high profile playwright and his glamorous girlfriend. The award will support a wider release for the film from 30 to 90+ sites using a mixture of 35mm prints and 30+ digital sites, and publicity costs.

Metrodome Film Distribution was awarded £102,231 for Rachid Bouchareb's award-winning and Best Foreign Language film Oscar® nominee Days of Glory, released on 30 March. Shot in French and Arabic with sub-titles, it is the forgotten story of Algerian soldiers who fought alongside the French in World War II. The award will enable Metrodome to release an additional 20 prints and use the Digital Screen Network. The media campaign for the film will be increased through selective TV advertising.

Tartan Film Distribution was awarded £150,000 for Paul Verhoeven's award-winning and BAFTA nominated feature Black Book which was released on 19 January. Shot in Dutch, German and Hebrew with a European cast, the award helped the distributor widen the film's release to 85 screens with digital and 35mm prints, as well as increase the spend on national advertising.

Tartan was also awarded £5,000 for Nick Broomfield’s award-winning feature Ghosts. Using a cast of non-professional actors, the award-winning filmmaker created a drama chronicling the true story of Chinese illegal immigrants in a British seaside town, and the tragic deaths of 23 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay.

Park Circus was awarded £29,850 for the re-issue of Michael Curtiz's classic Casablanca. One of the most iconic films of all time, the award supported a Valentine's Day Åeevent' digital release strategy, screening the film in 50 cinemas nationwide on the 14 February.

Soda Pictures was awarded £5,000 for Philip Gröning's award-winning documentary Into Great Silence. A film about life inside the Grande Chartreuse, the head monastery of the reclusive Carthusian Order in France, the award enabled a digital release to supplement the 35mm print distribution, supporting an estimated 40 additional bookings.

Optimum Releasing was awarded £3,500 for David Lynch's award-winning film Inland Empire to be released on 9 March. A 3-hour journey into the surreal starring Jeremy Irons, Laura Dern and others in a series of loosely connected vignettes, the award allowed Optimum to significantly increase their digital distribution for the film, thereby allowing more timely access to it by the core arthouse audience.

Finally, as part of its long-term strategy to further viewing choice for UK audiences, the Distribution and Exhibition Fund has also made an award of £3 million over 3 years to Sledge, the marketing agency responsible for a major new film website, launched as part of the UK Film Council’s Audience Development Fund. The site will feature a recommendation engine that uniquely matches individuals to forthcoming films, personalised space for members, and will offers a film-centric social network. Other content will includes a film screening scheduler and locater, ticketing links, film exhibitor information, reviews, news, interactive forums, offers and downloads.

A list of the UK Film Council's National Lottery awards can be found on our website at www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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NEWS RELEASE: 02/02/07

HARRY, MISS POTTER AND ATONEMENT PUSH FILM PRODUCTION SPENDING IN THE UK TO £840 MILLION IN 2006, THE SECOND HIGHEST YEAR ON RECORD

New UK Film Council statistics show inward investment film spend increased by 83% to £570 million. The amount of money spent in 2006 on making films in the UK such as The Golden Age, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Atonement, and His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass jumped by 48% to £840.1 million making it the second best year ever, new figures from the UK Film Council reveal. Read the press release here)

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NEWS RELEASE: 02/02/07

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Entrusts Film and TV rights to PETER PAN IN SCARLET To BBC Films, UK Film Council and Headline Pictures

Amidst strong competition, the film and television rights to Geraldine McCaughrean’s PETER PAN IN SCARLET, the official sequel to JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, have been entrusted to a British consortium comprising Headline Pictures, the UK Film Council and BBC Films, it was announced today by the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children’s Special Trustees. The deal was brokered on behalf of GOSH by Charlotte Mann of The Rod Hall Agency Ltd. Find out more

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NEWS RELEASE: 22/11/06

Hot new British films to reach more audiences through Lottery Funding from the UK Film Council

Two of the UK's hottest new films Red Road and London to Brighton have been given National Lottery awards to help them reach more audiences around the UK. Jan Dunn’s award winning debut feature GYPO has also received support. The films are just a few of several new titles and reissues whose distributors have received awards from the UK Film Council's P&A Fund to increase viewing choices for audiences across the UK, by gaining more exposure for specialised, foreign and arthouse films, which might otherwise only have a limited distribution.
Read all about here

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NEWS RELEASE: 22/11/06

Have your say on the UK Film Council's future funding and policy priorities

The UK Film Council is seeking views on its policy and funding priorities over the next three years in a consultation document published today - Film in the Digital Age. The document looks back on the work of the UK Film Council over the past six years and outlines a number of possible initiatives from April 2007-March 2010 if extra funding is secured. To find out more and for a chance to express your comments click here or visit www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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NEWS RELEASE: 15/11/06

UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund supports directorial debut of award-winning writer-director Duane Hopkins
 
Better Things, the first feature film from British director Duane Hopkins, currently in production, is one of several new projects to have received National Lottery funding from the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund.
 
Other films supported by the fund include Claudia Solti’s That’s for Me!, Bille Eltringham’s Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution, Richard Laxton’s The Allotment, and Peter Greenaway’s Nightwatching.
 
Better Things marks the directorial feature debut of short film award-winning writer and director Duane Hopkins, who was previously supported by the New Cinema Fund/Film4 short film initiative Cinema Extreme for his short film, Love Me or Leave Me Alone. Hopkins’ script for Better Things also won the MEDIA New Talent Award at Cannes 2004. More

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NEWS RELEASE: 15/11/06

BFI commissioned report shows how ethnicity, class and education affect how we watch television and film

The BFI has today published a report highlighting how class, ethnicity and education influence the way British viewers relate to film and television and how these differences can exclude large groups of the population. It suggests we need to rethink how we communicate across our different communities as audiences are divided in their taste and understanding of British cultural programming and film.

The study was carried out by the Open University and the University of Manchester for the BFI and it says culture has always divided people as much as it has provided a basis for shared values – and film and television are no exception. The problem is not one of minority groups failing to integrate with the national culture, rather key aspects of national film and television culture offer little space for ethnic interests or identities. Read more about it here

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NEWS RELEASE: 26/07/06

Potter, Wonka and Wallace pull in the punters as UK cinemas turn the tide on Global slump

British films account for a record-breaking third of takings in the UK, rake in over $3 billion worldwide and are seen by over 600 million people.

LONDON - 22 July 2006: One in four people went to the cinema at least once a month in 2005 with the result that UK cinemas outperformed much of the world; December and August were the most popular months to visit the cinema; comedies pulled in the biggest audiences and foreign language films grew in popularity, according to a new report published by the UK Film Council today.

The strength of home-grown British films meant that UK cinemas were able to turn the tide on a global ticket sales slump which saw admissions fall by almost 20% in some countries (USA down 9%, Germany 19% drop, Spain down 12.5% and France 10%). British films accounted for 33% of UK box office revenues, the highest since reliable records began, while the top 20 performing UK films grossed a massive $3.3 billion worldwide in 2005 - a 14.3% market share - and were seen by around 600 million people.
In 2004, the top 20 UK films made $2.6bn worldwide - a 10.3% share.

Read all about it here

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NEWS RELEASE: 17/07/06

THRILLERS FROM CELEBRATED BRITISH DIRECTOR AND NEW BRIT TALENT WIN LOTTERY SUPPORT THROUGH THE NEW CINEMA FUND

LONDON – Thursdsay 13 July 2006.
The UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund is backing one of Britain’s most legendary filmmakers, Nicolas Roeg, and Paul Andrew Williams, a director making his first feature film.

The fund has awarded £664,214 of National Lottery funding to Puffball, directed by Roeg (Don’t Look Now, Walkabout, Performance, The Man who Fell to Earth, Insignificance) and £184,566 to London to Brighton, directed by Williams.

London to Brighton has also been named today as one of the films selected by the Edinburgh International Film Festival (14-17 August) to screen in competition for the Michael Powell award for best new British feature. Last year’s award winner was Tsotsi which went onto win the Oscar® for best foreign language film . . . more

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NEWS RELEASE: 01/06/06

UK FILM COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF US OFFICE

LONDON – 30 May 2006: Today the UK Film Council announced the appointment of Claire Chapman as Executive Director of the US Office, taking over from Susan Finlayson-Sitch who has decided to return to the UK after setting up and running the UKFC LA office for six years.

Claire is an experienced producer with extensive knowledge of distribution and film finance. In her most recent position as Head of Production and Development for Scottish Screen, Claire has overseen their involvement in a number of films including Andrea Arnold’s Red Road, which has just been awarded the Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival; Ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss; Shona Auerbach’s Dear Frankie; Kenny Glenaan’s Yasmin; Gaby Dellal’s On a Clear Day; Annie Griffin’s Festival and Kevin Macdonald’s The Last King of Scotland.

To find out more click here

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NEWS RELEASE: 25/04/06

UK FILM COUNCIL CONTINUES TO WIDEN AUDIENCE CHOICE

Increase in number of prints and promotion boosts access to arthouse cinema with over £700,000 Lottery investment

LONDON – 11 April 2006: Today the UK Film Council announced the latest awards from its Prints and Advertising Fund which aims to bring a broader range of films to audiences across the UK.

The P&A Fund, which distributes £2 million each year, is made available in order to widen the release of specialised arthouse and foreign language films. Assistance is offered to distributors to produce extra prints and increase advertising for these specialised films, which otherwise would only have a very limited release in the UK. The fund also helps to enhance media exposure and publicity ensuring audiences are aware of the opportunities to see the film. To find out more click here or visit www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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NEWS RELEASE: 26/01/06

DA VINCI CODE, BASIC INSTINCT 2 AND STORMBREAKER TAKE FILM PRODUCTION IN THE UK TO £559 MILLION IN 2005

Home-grown films storm the UK box office with highest share in 10 years

LONDON – 16 January 2006. Film production spending in the UK totalled more than £559 million in 2005 while home-grown films accounted for 34% of UK box office revenue, the highest in 10 years, new figures from the UK Film Council reveal today.

According to the analysis which covers films with production budgets of £500,000 and above, production spending in 2005 totalled £559.55 million with UK involvement in 123 feature films. The year was, as expected, lower than 2004’s spending levels, due largely to the industry awaiting the results of changes to tax incentives and the strong pound against the US dollar. The new tax credit was announced in December 2005 and was widely welcomed by the industry . . . more

Lottery awards can be found on our website at www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/awards/

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NEWS RELEASE: 26/01/06

UK FILM COUNCIL BRINGS MORE FILMS TO CINEMA-GOERS ACROSS THE UK

National Lottery funding brings exciting new films to more cinema-goers across the UK

LONDON - 11 January 2005. Cinema-goers across the UK will be able to enjoy a wider range of British films during January thanks to National Lottery support through the UK Film Council.

The UK Film Council’s Print and Advertising Fund is ensuring more cinema-goers around the country will get a chance to see the latest releases including Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto, Michael Winterbottom’s comedy, Cock and Bull Story and the award-winning Frozen directed by Juliet Keon. The fund is also supporting the expanded release of the London-shot Match Point, the latest Woody Allen film. Find out more

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NEWS RELEASE: 21/12/05

UK FILM COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW TAX RELIEF BOOST FOR BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY

New tax credit will enable the UK to compete in global film market bringing jobs and investment to the UK and
a consistent flow of British films to UK audiences

LONDON – 5 December 2005: The UK Film Council today applauded the Government’s announcement of a new tax credit system for the British film industry which will support its development as the most important film industry in the world after the US.

In today’s Pre-Budget report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the new rate of tax relief for low budget films (films budgeted up to £20 million) will be a net 20%. For big budget films (£20 million and above), the rate will be a net 16%. Both rates apply to the UK spend of a film’s budget.

The tax relief will provide a solid base for the production of independent British films such as Mrs Henderson Presents, Bend it like Beckham, Shaun of the Dead and Vera Drake and internationally, puts the UK in pole position for attracting big budget US studio films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Batman Begins.

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council said:
“Today’s announcement by the Chancellor is the best news the British film industry has received for five years. It marks a new era for the future growth of our industry which operates in a highly competitive global marketplace.

“It’s good news for the production of culturally rich British films that promote Britain around the world. It’s also good news for jobs and the economy as we will be able to attract big budget films to UK shores.

“The UK has one of the most highly skilled film workforces in the world and last year film production contributed £3.1 billion to UK GDP. The new tax regime will support everything from big budget films like Harry Potter, to lower budget British comedies and thrillers, as well as films from auteur directors such as Ken Loach, Michael Winterbottom and Mike Leigh.

“Audiences in the UK and abroad love British films, and today’s announcement will ensure that a consistent flow of British films will continue to be produced for the enjoyment of all.”

This year, audiences have boosted the share of British films at the UK box office to 31%, compared to 23% last year.

The new tax relief announced today will mean:
• on low budget films (with production budgets up to £20 million), the tax credit level will be 20%;
• on higher budget films (with production budgets of £20 million and above), the tax credit level will be 16%;
• this level of tax credit applies to the total amount of UK spend -
for example, for a film with a total budget of £25 million, with a £10 million UK spend, the tax credit will only apply to the £10 million UK spend; and
• a more flexible system allowing producers to phase tax credits taking them either at the start of production, or later when they are receiving profits from the film.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport also announced details of a new cultural test which will provide the gateway to accessing tax relief. The test for British films introduces a points system based on the content of the film, talent, practitioners and filmmakers to provide a clear definition of a British film.

Commenting on the new cultural test, John Woodward added:
“This test will be simple, clear and effective for filmmakers to use. It will mean that taxpayers’ money will be spent on films delivering a cultural and economic benefit to the UK.”

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NEWS RELEASE: 09/08/05

UK Film Council Briefing on new Tax Credit

Government is totally reforming film tax relief - it's the most comprehensive overhaul of the film tax system since specific film reliefs were introduced in 1992. It's a new beginning.

The proposals represent a new approach to supporting the British film industry and they are aimed at delivering a sustainable tax structure for the long term as well as supporting the British film production sector.

The proposals continue to provide a subsidy for British films but crucially they also offer the potential to use the new tax credit to help to build British film businesses.

This is a radical, intelligent but complex strategy - all the more so because it breaks new ground for the film industry
. . . more

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NEWS RELEASE: 24/08/05

MORE AUDIENCES SEE MORE BRIT FILMS AT THE CINEMA WHILST BROADCASTERS FAIL TO MEET DEMAND FOR BRIT FILMS ON TV

LONDON. 2004 saw the second highest cinema admissions for 32 years with British films accounting for a quarter of the box office (23%), an increase of 49% on 2003, yet terrestrial broadcasters are still failing to show British films on television according to figures published by the UK Film Council today.
The UK Film Council’s report – the RSU Statistical Yearbook 2004/5 – gives in-depth analysis of every aspect of the British film industry, from film production and employment to cinema-going. To view the findings, click here

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NEWS RELEASE: 24/08/05

UK Film Council Film Publications Fund 2005-06

The Film Publications Fund invites applications from print and on-line film-related publications aimed at the general public or sectors of the film industry. The Fund aims to encourage debate about film culture and industry by broadening readership, increasing editorial range and developing the sustainability of film-related publications.

In 2005/6 the UK Film Council will give a priority to applications which support the development of audiences for specialised films, either by addressing audiences directly or by targeting film programmers and exhibitors . . . more

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NEWS RELEASE: 26/05/05

SOUTHERN CINEMAS SHARE IN £11.7 MILLION
DIGITAL REVOLUTION

30 cinemas in Southern England to be part of the world’s first digital screen network bringing a massive increase in film choice for cinema-goers in the region

LONDON. Cinema-goers across the South of England will have a greater choice of films at the cinema thanks to the creation of the world’s first ‘Digital Screen Network’. Thirty two cinemas from across the South have been chosen to be part of the network, the UK Film Council announced today.

A total of £11.7 million from the UK Film Council’s share of National Lottery funding is to be used to install state-of-the-art digital film projectors and related equipment in 209 cinemas across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the first cinemas in the network programming screenings later this year.

In return for the new equipment, the cinemas, which range from smaller local and ‘art-house’ cinemas to multiplexes, have committed to providing more screening time to showing a greater selection of more specialised (ie non-Hollywood), classic, and foreign language movies. As a result more people will be able to see critically acclaimed films such as British multiple award winners Touching the Void and Vera Drake, House of Flying Daggers, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Downfall, Motorcycle Diaries and Dear Frankie.

The introduction of digital distribution will mean that films such as these will reach around 30 million people throughout the UK with an increase in specialised film screenings of up to 75,000 in the first year alone, rising to 165,000 in four years from now. The overall number of cinema visits in the UK could be raised by up to 4 million, thanks to the more diverse range of films available to audiences.

The Digital Screen Network will also offer audiences and local communities in the South of England a range of other benefits. Cinemas will be encouraged to use the equipment to show, for example, films made by local filmmakers, film clubs and schools.

As well increasing the screen time available to non-Hollywood films, providing films in a digital format will mean that distributors can make more copies available more quickly to a larger number of cinemas.

Currently, the cost of producing prints of a specialised film for distribution to cinemas can be anywhere in the region of £1,500 per 35mm print, which can often limit the number of available copies of a film which often has a potentially wide appeal, and therefore the film receives a limited release and fails to reach a wide enough audience. In addition to art-house and foreign language films, British produced movies can also suffer in this way. In contrast, films can be duplicated in a digital format at a substantially lower cost allowing film companies to increase the number of film prints available to cinemas.

Announcing details of the network John Woodward, the UK Film Council’s Chief Executive Officer said that the Digital Screen Network will change the face of cinema-going right across the UK.
“This initiative is a world first for the UK and is a hugely exciting and significant development for British cinema and cinema-goers in the South of England. Nearly 20 years ago the introduction of multiplexes transformed the choice of mainstream films on offer to cinema-goers at any one time. We believe that the Digital Screen Network could increase the opportunities on offer for people to see more specialised films in the same way.”
Welcoming the move, James Purnell MP, Minister for Film said: "Many cinema goers often only get the pick of a crop of big budget blockbuster films, particularly outside London. That is going to change.
"The groundbreaking digital network will give film fans more choice - they'll get to see more British, critically acclaimed and small budget films, alongside classics on the big screen, where they belong.”
In addition to the awards to 209 cinemas, a further 83 cinemas have been offered the option of buying in to the services provided by the Digital Screen Network and its management company Arts Alliance Digital Cinema. These cinemas will be able to benefit from a wide range of services such as training, installation of equipment and maintenance.

For further information contact:
Ian Thomson/Caroline Nagle
UK Film Council Press Office
T: +44 (0)20 7861 7901/7508/7861
E: press@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. A list of the 32 cinemas in the South of England that will be part of the world’s first digital screen network can be found below.
2. The assessment process was conducted by UK Film Council executives, external advisors who are experts in their own fields and was rigorously monitored from day one by independent assessors to maintain correct codes of practice.
3. Cinemas awarded by type
Sites awarded Screens awarded

By cinema type:

Mainstream independents 33 33
Multiplexes 129 141
Specialised 49 66

Total awards: 211 240

4. UK Film Council. Film is a rich and popular part of our culture. It also makes a significant contribution to the UK economy with an estimated annual turnover of £5 billion. The industry employs 57,000 people across the UK.
Cinema is this country’s most popular and powerful form of entertainment. In 2004 there were 171 million visits to the cinema in the UK, the second highest for 30 years. British films are watched by millions of people around the world promoting Britain abroad and boosting tourism.
As the lead agency for film, the UK Film Council aims to stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, both now and for the future.
For this reason, we use National Lottery support to develop new filmmakers, fund exciting new British films such as Touching the Void and Vera Drake and give audiences the opportunity to see a wider choice of films such as The Motorcycle Diaries and The House of Flying Daggers.
The UK Film Council also helps to promote Britain as a filmmaking location and to raise the profile of British films abroad.

SCREEN SOUTH REGION – AWARDED CINEMAS

Carlton Cinema Westgate on Sea Reeltime Cinemas Ltd
Screen at Reigate Bloom Theatres Ltd
The Capitol Horsham Horsham District Council
The Corn Exchange Newbury The Corn Exchange Trust (Newbury)
The Screen at Oxted Bloom Theatres Ltd
The Screen at Winchester Mainline Pictures Ltd
Cineworld Ashford Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Bexleyheath Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Chichester Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Didcot Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Milton Keynes Cine-UK Ltd
Cineworld Newport Isle of Wight Cine-UK Ltd
Odeon Guildford Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Kingston Upon Thames Odeon Cinemas Ltd
Odeon Tunbridge Wells Odeon Cinemas Ltd
UCI High Wycombe United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Maidenhead United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UCI Port Solent, Portsmouth United Cinemas International (UK) Limited
UGC Brighton Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Crawley Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Eastbourne Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Rochester Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
UGC Slough Cine-UK Ltd (UGC)
Vue Basingstoke Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Reading Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Vue Thanet Vue Entertainment Holdings (UK) Ltd
Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Southampton City Screen Limited
Kino, Hawkhurst Kino Holdings Ltd
Phoenix Picturehouse, Oxford City Screen Limited
The Duke of York's Picturehouse Brighton City Screen Limited

Total: 30

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NEWS RELEASE: 13/06/05

£3 MILLION PUSH TO OPEN CINEMA-GOERS EYES TO WIDER CHOICE OF FILMS OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

Bids invited to run National Lottery funded scheme to boost
cinema attendances and develop audiences for
new lower budget British and specialist films

LONDON The UK Film Council today announced details of a £3 million National Lottery funded initiative to increase the range and breadth of cinema-going across the UK over the next three years.

Targeting young adults, general mainstream cinema audiences and film ‘buffs’, the UK Audience Development Scheme is intended to stimulate the viewing of specialised, ie non-mainstream or overtly commercial, films in the UK. Last year saw 171.3 million visits to the cinema in the UK, the second highest for 30 years, however, the opportunity for audiences across the UK to see specialised films has been limited to date even though UK audiences are showing a growing appetite for seeing a broader range of films. This scheme aims to make current and would-be cinema-goers more aware of the diversity of films on offer, such as House of Flying Daggers, City of God, Vera Drake and A Very Long Engagement.

Now applications are being invited for an annual £1 million contract over three years to work with cinema operators, film distributors and other partners such as schools and local community groups as well as film industry bodies on a national, regional and local basis to put the strategy into effect.

The UK Audience Development Scheme is aimed directly at encouraging audiences to become more adventurous in their viewing habits and in actually taking up the improved viewing opportunities on offer. The scheme should build upon the existing activities and marketing strategies currently carried out by both film distributors and exhibitors.

The scheme will also complement existing UK Film Council work to increase the range, breadth and depth of films exhibited throughout the UK, which include the establishment of a UK-wide network of digital screens. This initiative will result in more than 200 cinema screens being equipped with digital technology, which will allow lower budget and non-mainstream films to be distributed more widely across the UK.

The successful applicant to the Audience Development Scheme will be expected to attract significant media partners from both the broadcast and print media to assist in awareness and interest building among audiences; provide contextualised information for audiences both in electronic (eg website) and hard copy formats; and deliver a communication and awareness strategy aimed at developing non-mainstream film viewing in order to encourage cinema-goers to take a more adventurous approach to the films they go to see.

Announcing details of the scheme Pete Buckingham, the UK Film Council’s Head of Distribution and Exhibition said: “Our objective to transform the range and breadth of cinema going in the UK continues with today’s groundbreaking call for partners to promote film culture. Specialised films are not just the preserve of the cultural elite or audiences in the West End of London. Our goal is for the greatest cinema from around the world to be seen by all UK audiences and to give cinemagoers the chance to learn more about film and film making. This initiative will help us build on existing opportunities to reach this goal.”

Notes:

1. Applicants should read and study the FULL GUIDELINES before proceeding to submit an application. Guidelines can be found on the UK Film Council’s website at www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/funding The closing date for the receipt of applications is 5/9/05.

2. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced companies and organisations that are;

• Registered and centrally managed in the UK
• Trusts or charitable organisations working in the UK
• Including recognised film industry bodies / organisations
• A consortium or partnership made up of any of the above, but managed by a single entity

The UK Film Council envisages that such a consortium might comprise both private and public sector companies and organisations which can work together and provide more expertise and knowledge than any single organisation working alone. The overall skill, knowledge and experience base of such a consortium might be expected to be greater than the sum of its individual components.

3. The organisation must have a demonstrated track record in audience development and education, and be able to evidence their financial & administrative capabilities to manage the award.

4. The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in film development and production; training; international development and export promotion; distribution and exhibition; and education. Our aim is to deliver lasting benefits to the industry and the public alike through:
• creativity - encouraging the development of new talent, skills, and creative and technological innovation in UK film and assisting new and established film-makers to produce successful and distinctive British films;
• enterprise – supporting the creation and growth of sustainable businesses in the film sector, providing access to finance and helping the UK film industry compete successfully in the domestic and global marketplace;
• imagination - promoting education and an appreciation and enjoyment of cinema by giving UK audiences access to the widest range of UK and international cinema, and by supporting film culture and heritage.

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NEWS RELEASE: 13/04/05

SCHEME TO HELP TRAIN FILM MAKERS OF THE FUTURE - KELLY

Education and Skills Secretary, Ruth Kelly, has launched a consultation on a new training body for the film industry and a levy on film productions made in the UK to help train the British filmmakers of the future.

The new investment in training will support more young people who want to follow in the footsteps of famous British film directors like Anthony Minghella, who directed the recent Oscar winning hit ‘Cold Mountain’, or producer Richard Curtis who produced the hugely popular ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’. It will help to train a new generation to follow on from existing British cinema success stories, such as those nominated at this year’s Academy Awards, which included: John Mathieson who received a Best Cinematography nomination for The Phantom of the Opera; nominations for costume design for Sandy Powell (The Aviator), Alexandra Byrne (Finding Neverland) and Bob Ringwood (Troy); and a whole host of other Brits nominated for their creative successes in make up, art direction and visual effects.
Ruth Kelly said:
“The British film industry consistently produces creative and technical talent that can compete with the very best in the world. This new initiative will ensure the investment in training to support and retain British film makers and encourage more top young talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
“I’m delighted by the extremely positive approach the film industry has towards training its employees and thank Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the film industry and the UK Film Council for their involvement.
“It is for each sector to develop the approaches to training that are right for their specific needs and circumstances and we will support sectors as they develop their strategies through their Sector Skills Agreements.”

An Industry Training Board for the film industry would be able to put the existing voluntary training levy - the Skills Investment Fund, collected by Skillset, the Se