BFI Pledges £1.5m For UK Film

The British Film Institute (BFI) is to pledge £1.5m Lottery funding to help enhance the international reputation of UK film.
The International Strategy will see the BFI run a pilot scheme of marketing and promotional support for US releases of selected UK films in 2014.
It will also increase funding to support inward investment, film export and co- production.
The International Strategy lays out the BFI's plan to help UK film achieve maximum economic growth and cultural reach in the global marketplace by 2017.
It has marked out China, Brazil and the US as "priority territories for export, co-production and cultural exchange."
BFI Head of International, Isabel Davis, has spearheaded the strategy, consulting with government and partners from across the UK.
The key areas of international engagement that best support the UK film economy have been identified as: audiovisual policy, co-production, cultural exchange, export, inward investment and skills.
Isabel Davis said: "Film is a truly global business, and UK film is riding high on the world stage following a hugely successful outing for British films and filmmakers in the autumn festivals and with the UK’s world-class crews, talent, facilities, studios and infrastructure, coupled with our attractive film tax relief, continuing to entice film production from around the world. The aim of this strategy is to capitalise on that success and stimulate growth in the years ahead. Partnership is at the heart of this strategy, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with our partners in government and industry to maximise the economic growth and cultural reach of UK film."
UK film production volume is thought to be worth on average over £1bn a year and exports of UK film worth £1.7bn per year, marking an increase of 121% since 1995.
Image courtesy of BFI National Archive.
www.bfi.org.uk
(IT/MH)