‘London Day’ in Cannes marks 'production revolution'

At the Cannes Film Festival Film London has announced "the most comprehensive revolution in film production in London for 25 years".
Top British film-makers Stephen Frears, Gurinder Chadha and Martha Fiennes marked the launch of the new London Filming Partnership by participating in a series of events as part of a ‘London Day’ in Cannes.
The Partnership delivers a package of ground-breaking initiatives which will cement London’s position as one of the world’s leading film production centres.
The Partnership is the result of 12 months of extensive consultation between everyone involved in film production in London - industry bodies, local authorities and the major landmarks and organisations - chaired by Lord David Puttnam as part of the Film London Executive Task Force.
Mayor Ken Livingstone and the London Development Agency back the Partnership, and over 80 partners have signed up already including all of London’s 33 local authorities, PACT, The Production Guild, Production Managers Association, Guild of Location Managers, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police.
Film, TV and advertising productions in London will now benefit from: The first ever Metropolitan Police Filming Unit dedicated to assisting all productions filming in the capital; A red-tape busting ‘single online portal’ system to access information on London locations and arrange filming permissions; The free use of Film London location scouts for major feature film productions; No local authority filming charges for student and low-budget film-makers; Special discounts on accommodation, parking, transport and iconic locations; A transparent fee structure for filming across all 33 London boroughs; A 24 hour ‘filming hotline’ for local residents; And a new mediation service for any film-maker involved in a local dispute.
These new benefits will deliver a massive overhaul to filming in the capital. They will ensure London remains an industry leader in an increasingly competitive international marketplace and allay any outdated perceptions of London as a difficult city to film in. Productions currently benefiting from London's film-friendly approach include 'The Da Vinci Code', 'V For Vendetta' and 'Basic Instinct: Risk Addiction'.
Film London, through the Task Force process, has also now produced a new step-by-step guide for filming in the capital and a guide for local authorities to make London film-friendly on a practical level. Both of these are available online.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said: “The London Filming Partnership will make London one of the best, easiest and most efficient places to film in the world. With the unprecedented support of everyone involved in film and media production in the capital I have no doubt that this agreement will help to keep London at the top of the international production industry. We have delivered the most comprehensive revolution in film production in London for 25 years".
(GB)