30/11/2010

Ed Vaizey, UK Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, has announced that he is charging Film London with the national inward investment function for film, through a public-private partnership with key film industry bodies including Pinewood Studios Group, UK Screen Association and the Production Guild.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said, “I am delighted the DCMS [Department for Culture Media and Sport] has awarded Film London with this national remit. Home to around 75% of the UK’s film industry, London is front and centre of the film business in this country. In that sense we already work very closely with the industry, both domestically and internationally, promoting London and the UK as well as constantly improving the infrastructure for filming.

“Therefore we are well placed to take on this responsibility on a national level and welcome the valued expertise and investment from our commercial industry colleagues and our partners in the nations and regions, which will perfectly complement the skills we already house, in order to continue and develop this important work.”

Ivan Dunleavy, Chief Executive of Pinewood Shepperton, said, “The private-public partnership that is being put forward will have a clear business objective: to build on the UK’s already impressive system of film tax relief, its skills and its infrastructure to attract increased levels of inward investment films.”

Film London will also work with BAFTA, the British Film Institute and BBC Worldwide on initiatives to build on existing capacities and connections to explore showcasing and promoting British films to the world.