FILM IN ENGLAND - UK Film Council - British Film Institute

Consultation 3
18
Film in England
■ To be genuinely holistic not “top-down” or “bottom-up” so as to encourage
regional initiatives that are significant in the context of national priorities
which, in turn, support regional aims
■ To promote accomplishment at every level from individuals participating in film
for the very first time to the practised professional
■ To expand upon a principled commitment to cultural and ethnic diversity,
social inclusion and disabled people via programmes of practical action which
lead to better integration into the wider film environment for all those
involved.
Structural effectiveness
The strategy would need:
■ To note the coherence and effectiveness of Scottish Screen, Sgrîn and the
Northern Ireland Film Commission as potential models for film development in
a number of English regions
■ To overcome the structural fragmentation of film activities in most English
regions especially the artificial separation of industry and culture which mirrors
the fragmentation that existed at a national level prior to the establishment of
the FILM COUNCIL
■ To encourage better co-operation between the many different film
organisations in the English regions
■ To address the needs of specific film sectors (for example screen commissions
or production funds) and to ensure effective linkage between regional
objectives and specific sectoral strategies.
Partnerships
The strategy would need:
■ To address policy issues across all relevant Government departments for
example with the DfEE, the DETR and the dti as well as the DCMS (the
sponsoring Government department for film)
■ To appreciate the real potential for using FILM COUNCIL funding to leverage
other public and private sector funds. These funds may originate locally,
regionally, nationally, from Europe or internationally. EU structural funds being
particularly key in the short term
■ To streamline and make more transparent the FILM COUNCIL’s relationship
with the bfi especially with regard to the bfi’s existing role as a funder of film
in the regions
■ To ensure that Lottery funding remaining with the ACE for film – particularly
the Arts Capital Programme – is used more effectively especially to support and
develop cinema exhibition in the regions