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A Google map of the UK showing iconic and unusual film locations for several major British films and some Hollywood productions through the ages

Responses from the industry....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Skillset welcomes today’s report from the Film Policy Review panel, which recognises skills and talent as key drivers for the success of our industry.

Skillset’s Chief Executive, Dinah Caine, said: “We are delighted the panel has acknowledged that ‘skills and talent provides the backbone which underpins the success of the entire film sector in the UK’. We also welcome the recognition that a strategy for skills will ensure that our skills base continues to act as ‘a powerful incentive for inward investment, and that the indigenous film sector is able to maximise benefits to audiences’.”

The report acknowledges the successes of Skillset’s work since 1997, responding to recommendations from the previous film policy review, ‘A Bigger Picture’. Through the industry training levy, the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), and the UK film skills strategy, A Bigger Future, Skillset has achieved fundamental changes within the industry, supporting the development of accessible and affordable training and education and encouraging greater transparency.

As well as praising a ‘gold standard’ film skills strategy, the panel recognises Skillset’s role and successes working with the wider Creative Industries, where it enjoys strong industry engagement and support. In addition, the panel acknowledges the significant co-investment that Skillset has secured and the quality of their delivery.

“Today’s report makes a clear recommendation for the BFI and Skillset to build on the solid foundations of our work to maintain our industry’s competitive position in a digital age,” Caine said. “We look forward to working with the BFI, industry and all our partners to respond to all of the recommendations and develop the next phase of our UK film skills strategy.”

London 16 January 2012:

The Cinema Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) – representing the interests of UK cinema operators – has offered a broad welcome to recommen-dations made in today’s report by the Government’s Film Policy Review Panel.

Chief Executive Phil Clapp said: “On behalf of cinema operators across the country, the CEA welcomes the hard work and thought that has clearly gone into the Panel’s comprehensive report.

In particular we are pleased to see the Panel’s recognition of the economic, social and cultural importance of the UK cinema sector, and the crucial role that many cinemas both multiplexes and smaller independent operators – play in their local community.

The report rightly concludes that the way forward in supporting British film is primarily through greater efforts to increase the supply of high quality homegrown productions making their way to the big screen.

As the report acknowledges, the success of The King’s Speech, The In-Betweeners Movie and the final Harry Potter film, 2011clearly demonstrates that there is an audience for well-made and engaging British films. The challenge now is to stimulate and meet that demand.

The potential for greater flexibility of programming offered by the ongoing digitisation of UK cinemas should benefit audiences for all types of film, but we look forward to working with Government and the BFI to ensure appropriate support for the report’s recommendations around promoting and showcasing British films in particular as part of that transformation.

We are particularly delighted to see the Panel confirming its support for proposal to make the recording of a film in a cinema theatre a specific criminal offence. Given the importance of cinemas as a source of stolen film content his is something the industry has advocated for more than a decade, and which during that time has been a frequent call from both industry and Government working groups. It is very much hoped that Government will now action this as soon as possible.”

Commenting on the UK Film Policy Review released today, Gary Smith, CEO of Intandem Films, said:

"We welcome the recommendations of the Film Policy Review . The dynamics of the international film industry now demand that to be successful a film needs to have the benefit of a cinema release, which generally means attracting a strong cast. To attract even more commercial films to stay in the UK we would urge the government to encourage screenplay writers to write cinematic films which appeal to a wide audience. I'm pleased to say that last week, Intandem applied for a grant from Skillset to assist in the training of up to 30 screenplay writers targetting commercial films with the audience in mind. With regards to the sustainability of film companies, the Government should consider increasing the tax credit to 25% on all productions up to £25million and to allow the production companies and sales companies involved to reinvest the returns provided that at least 75% of the investment is recouped. We are competing with US State tax credits and Canadian credits of up to 30% and that is where many films are produced. We need to get those films back to the UK. We have a great pool of talent but unfortunately it's the American Studios who are taking advantage of it because the film industry infrastructure in this country has for too long been dominated by the art house mentality. It's time for the entrepreneurs to stand up and take the industry forward in conjunction with the amazing creative talent."