UK Film Council to be abolished
Britain’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced plans to abolish the UK Film Council as part of a cost-cutting and transparency/accountability/efficiency plan across 55 of its public bodies.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the proposal contemplates abolishing the UK Film Council and establishing “a direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute” to “support front-line services while ensuring greater value for money. ”
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Encore that the co-production agreement – which has been in force since 1990 – between the two countries states that the UK will have to notify Australia if the competent film authority changes.
“Under the agreement, both parties are required to designate a ‘competent authority’ for the approval of official co-productions, to ensure the effective ongoing administration of the agreement. For example, following the merger of Australia’s screen agencies in 2008, Australia notified the UK that its designated competent authority was changing from the Australian Film Commission to Screen Australia. The UK will need to notify Australia of any changes to its designated competent authority,” said the spokesperson.
DFAT chose not to comment on the potential impact of this change on Australia/UK co-productions.
Back in the UK, Hunt said that key activities currently carried out by the UK Film Council will continue, including Lottery funding and work in support of film certification for tax purposes.
“DCMS will now consider options for transferring those responsibilities to other organisations. As a charity, the British Film Institute (BFI) is not within the scope of this review, but the Government is committed to its long term future. DCMS will now consider how to build a more direct relationship between the BFI and Government,” said Hunt.
Tim Bevan, chair of the UK Film Council, said the move is “a bad decision”.
“People will rightly look back on today’s announcement and say it was a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency. British film, which is one of the UK’s more successful growth industries, deserves better.
“Our immediate priority now is to press the government to confirm that the funding levels and core functions that are needed to underpin British film are locked in, especially at a time when filmmakers and film companies need more support than ever as they make the challenging transition into the digital age.”
