Northern Alliance - BFI

Table 11: Filmmaker career progression 2006-09 43
Scheme
Percentage of
filmmakers
making
further shorts
(%)
Percentage
of
filmmakers
making a
feature (%)
Estimated
number of
filmmakers 44
Total cost
to NCF (£)
Cost per
feature
filmmaker
(£)
Cinema
Extreme n/c 4% 2 249,991 124,996
Completion
Fund 9% 1% 1 183,823 183,823
Digital
Shorts 23% 2% 16 1,634,400 102,150
Digital
Shorts Plus /
Digital
Nation 28% 11% 4 180,000 45,000
Although it would be much more informative to perform the above analysis over a
longer period of time, the fact that we can only analyse recent data at least means
that errors from double counting 45 are more likely to be limited. The timeframe also
coincides with the prosecution of the New Cinema Fund‟s revised strategy.
While the analysis above is constrained by the information available, it appears that
the Digital Shorts Plus/Digital Nation scheme is not only effective but also, relative to
the other schemes, cost-efficient.
43 This table shows the career development of filmmakers (writers, directors, producers) per
scheme, from 2006 to 2009, as recorded by the UK Film Council's strategic partners. Source: strategic
partners questionnaire. Please note, these figures include short films that have been funded but not yet
completed (particularly in the most recent year). Figures reflect activity up until May 2009.
44 Estimated by multiplying the number of films by three (to allow for one writer, director and
producer) and then again by the percentage given. It has not been possible to identify the actual number
of writers, directors and producers who have progressed to make feature films nor to examine the trend
of progression over a longer (and thereby arguably more relevant) timeframe.
45 For example, double counting a Digital Shorts filmmaker who subsequently makes a Digital Shorts
Plus film, and then a Cinema Extreme film.
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