FILM COUNCIL'S £6M BOOST FOR ENGLISH REGIONS

THE FILM Council are to invest £6 million in a strategy designed to boost the film industry in the English Regions.
Backed and approved by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the ‘Film In England: A Development Strategy for Film and the Moving Image in the English Regions’ strategy outlines proposals for a clear line of attack in each of the English Region.
Consisting of cash support for production, cinema exhibition, training consultation, education, archives and screen commissioners, the strategy proposes a new integrated framework for regional policy and funding encouraging coordinated working between regional bodies and the establishment of single agencies for film.
John Woodward (pictured), Chief Executive Officer at the Film Council, said: “This is a new coherent regional development strategy for film where the regions and the national body - the Film Council - are working together in partnership for the first time. It's imperative that we fund the regions in a more effective way to help them develop film culture and business across England."
As part of the ten key recommendations a new Regional Investment Fund England will be established. Covering all the regions the interlinked plan will lead to a clear film strategy for each English region with cash support for production, screen commissions, cinema exhibition, training, archives and education. The fund will become active from April 2001.
Culture Minister Chris Smith said: “The report highlights how the Film Council and its partners across the English regions can work together to turn economic potential into successful film ventures and jobs. It is encouraging to see that work is well underway to boost the British film industry at regional level.”
Other another key objectives for the fund are the promotion of cultural and ethnic diversity, and the countering of social exclusion.
The Film Council is to work with Scottish Screen, Sgrin in Wales and the Northern Ireland Film Commission to develop a UK-wide policy for film that builds on the work undertaken in England.
(CMcL)