19th May 2012
UK Government Plans to Shut Down the Film Council
27th July 2010
The UK Film Council is to be abolished. The catastrophic news was unveiled by the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 July.
The move is part of the new UK coalition government's plans to reduce the country's budget deficit. This means the UK film industry will lose its annual £15 million grant and lead to job losses for the Film Council's 75 employees. Launched in 2000 by the previous Labour government, the Film Council has calculated that UK films contributed £4.5 billion-plus to the national economy in 2009.
It has reportedly helped finance more than 900 films, including independents hits such as Bend It Like Beckham, Gosford Park, The Last King of Scotland (which garnered Oscar and BAFTA awards), and the new Streetdance 3D.
The organisation has also been responsible for boosting the penetration of digital cinema screens in the country - making the UK Europe's biggest digital cinema market. Alternative funding bodies are being considered but details have yet to be finalised.
Photography by Judah Passow - Represented by Gallery 1839 London