BECTU backs new film body

BECTU is backing a new government-funded body to develop the UK film industry.

The Film Council, created this week, has been given £22m of new government finance to help fund productions and pay to train key industry personnel.

In addition to the £22m extra funding, the new body will take over responsibility for budgets previously held by the Arts Council and British Film Institute. In total, the Film Council will have £55m a year to invest in the industry.

Under its first Chair, film director Alan Parker, the Council is expected to favour bids from commercially oriented production, instead of the art house movies which have traditionally looked for public assistance.

Producers from North America will also be able to pitch for public funding, in contrast with the traditional view that grants should favour European programme-makers.

However, European producers and directors planning projects that involve new technology will have access to £5m of the Council's budget which has been earmarked for "radical and experimental film-makers".

The Film Council opens for business on October 1 this year, and one of its first tasks will be to deliver policy proposals to Culture Minister Chris Smith proposing structural changes in the industry that would benefit UK film-making.

At the new organisation's launch, Chris Smith said that: "The establishment of a single lead film industry body in the Film Council...will ensure that the industry builds on its successes".

BECTU has no seat on the governing body, a break from the union's role in other government initiatives, but has already established close liaison with the Film Council's leading members.