Film Distributors Reach £1m Mark In National Film School Sponsorship

The Film Distributors' Association (FDA) and the National Film & Television School (NFTS) have jointly announced that FDA's sponsorship of the school has crossed the £1 million mark in this, its 17th consecutive year.
FDA's 'key partner' sponsorship programme to aid the school, based at Beaconsfield Studios, began in 1992 with annual contributions made every autumn.
The £1m paid to date by FDA for and on behalf of its members excludes donations and bursaries funded separately by individual companies, so the overall total given by the distribution sector during the period is significantly greater than £1m.
NFTS Director, Nik Powell, said: "Thanks a million to all the film distributors who have shown such loyal support to the NFTS, which simply couldn't exist without its extended family of sponsors and partners.
"The school's many links with the industry are incredibly important both for the onward careers of our students and for ensuring we remain a world leader in high-end film and media training."
Commenting, FDA President, Lord Puttnam, said: "This funding shows distributors' confidence and commitment to the industry's long-term development.
"NFTS graduates have long populated the crews of feature films launched by FDA members.
"From The Duchess, The Dark Knight and Prince Caspian to the adventures of James Bond and Harry Potter, a wide range of new releases have benefited from creative and technical skills refined at the NFTS.
"FDA's broad membership is delighted to continue to step up and dig deep to support future generations of top calibre filmmaking talent," said the seminal filmmaker.
(BMcC)