23/02/2006

In a major boost to the local film industry, on Wednesday the BBC announced plans to invest as much as £300m (€440m) in indigenous British films as part of a new, ambitious film strategy for the public broadcaster’s next 10-year charter period starting in 2007.

The investment, made in response to the UK government’s call for the BBC to support British film and British film talent, will be split into local film production and acquisition of British films for broadcast across all its channels and platforms, including top channels BBC 1 and BBC2. Starting in mid-2007, the BBC’s annual film production budget for its film division, BBC Films, will thus increase from the current £10m (€14.6m) to £15m (€22m) and the proportion of the BBC’s acquisition budget for British films will have a guaranteed £50m (€73m) over the next charter period subject to a ‘favourable’ licence fee settlement with the Government.

Alan Yentob, Creative Director of the BBC said: "BBC Films has a unique place in the UK film industry as a supporter of projects which would otherwise not make it onto the big screen. Many of these have made a huge impact, with critical and commercial success, including A Cock & Bull Story, Dirty Pretty Things [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Bullet Boy, Mrs Henderson Presents, In This World, Match Point and Billy Elliot. Increased investment will broaden the portfolio of films we can bring to the screen enhancing the BBC’s contribution to the UK film industry".

As part of its new film strategy, the BBC has also teamed up with the UK Film Council to develop a range of projects, designed together to give audiences more choice, develop and support creativity and skills across the industry and encourage public participation in film learning.

The UK producers’ trade organisation PACT welcomed BBC’s announcement, but added that the public broadcaster should also "review the basis on which they acquire film rights from independent producers", allowing them "to participate in the revenues generated from film exploitation".