FILM COUNCIL LAUNCH £6M REGIONAL FUND

THE FILM Council launched their £6 million fund for Regional Investment for Film in England (RIFE) in Cambridge on June 27 in partnership with Screen East, one of the first regional agencies to receive funding under the new initiative.
The launch will be attended by Films Minister Dr Kim Howells along with representatives from the Film Council and Screen East.
RIFE will provide cash support for a range of film activities including film production, screen commissions, cinema exhibition, film training, archives and education. The establishment of the fund, an annual commitment for three years, comes after an extensive consultation programme carried out last year led by the Film Council. This included a national seminar and nine regional seminars with more than 500 people participating from across the regions. Those contributing to the consultation process welcomed the conclusions of the Film Council's regional strategy and agreed that an injection of funding to be administered on a regional level was the most effective way to strengthen the growth of the film UK film industry on a local level.
Kim Howells, Films Minister, said: "The launch of the Regional Investment Fund and of Screen East on the same day represents more than mere convenience. This is an excellent example of a renewed partnership between the Film Council and the regions to help promote opportunities for all to enjoy film and to work in the industry. It will ensure that everybody has the opportunity to learn about film or watch a broad range of movies, wherever they live."
John Woodward, Film Council Chief Executive Officer, said: "This is the first of many regional partnerships being made over the coming months. Strong regional film agencies are increasingly important to the film industry and invaluable to regional film culture." (CD)