British Film Policy Published

The introduction of a British film week, film screenings and a push on anti-piracy are among the proposals outlined in a review of the UK film industry completed by former Labour minister Lord Smith.
The review was commissioned by the government to explore ways to offer greater support to UK filmmakers.
Lord Smith said the review highlighted things the government, the British Film Institute (BFI) and the industry could do "to ensure that we continue to build on recent successes".
It contains 56 recommendations to try to achieve that.
A new approach to film education in British schools, financial incentives to encourage collaborations between producers and distributors at the initial stages of financing a project, and moves to encourage all major broadcasters to increase current levels of support for British film are some of the other recommendations made by leading industry experts in a report published today.
Lord Smith has placed the audience – be it cinema-goers, TV viewers or smartphone users – at the heart of the review which seeks to use public policy to maximise audience access to films of every kind.
Although the average Briton watches over 80 films a year on big and small screens, the UK audience still gets to see too few British films – between 2001 and 2010 independent British films accounted for only 5.5% at the box office.
Lord Smith said:"British film is going through a golden period. A run of British-made and British-based movies has been taking audiences around the world by storm. But we cannot be complacent – this review highlights the things that the BFI, Government and industry can do to ensure that we continue to build on recent successes.
"British film is in prime position to make a major contribution to the growth of the UK’s economy, to the development of attractive and fulfilling careers for young people and to the creation of job opportunities across the country."
Meanwhile the British Film Insitute said: "Against the backdrop of a record year for British film and film talent, we welcome this report which rightly places audiences at the heart of future UK film policy."
(LB)