UK Film Council to be Abolished? | The Irish Film & Television Network

A letter from Mr Woodward explains that ”The DCMS has informed the Board and me of their intention to abolish the UK Film Council.” The CEO of the UK Film Council explains that the move has come as something of a surprise to the body, writing: “The decision has been imposed with no notice and no consultation – and there appears to have been no evaluation inside Government of the strengths or weaknesses of the UK Film Council. Put simply, late last week we suddenly found ourselves on a list that will enable the DCMS to help meet the Treasury’s targets for cutting the total number of public bodies.

“I think we can all agree that this is short-sighted and potentially very damaging, especially as there is at present no roadmap setting out where the UK Film Council’s responsibilities and funding will be placed in the future.

Mr Woodward’s letter indicates that the UK Film Council has already been informed of its elimination, stating: “The Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey, has said that the target is to have the organisation totally closed down with its assets and its remaining operations transferred out by April 2012. That does, at least, give us time to honour our current commitments and, as far as possible, to continue our funded support for film while the DCMS ensures an orderly transfer of remaining film functions to other Government departments and/or agencies. My one priority over the next few weeks will be to press the Government to confirm that the funding levels and core functions that are needed to underpin British film are locked-in.”

The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK that looks to ensure that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented in Britain and abroad. The group has aided with the production of films such as ‘Nowhere Boy’; ‘Bright Star’; ‘Fish Tank’; ‘Man on Wire’; ‘St. Trinian’s’ and the Irish co-productions ‘Becoming Jane’ and ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’ amongst many others.

The move to abolish the UK Film Council comes as a result of a proposal from Britain’s Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt’s which calls for “abolishing the UK Film Council and establishing a direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute; this would support front-line services while ensuring greater value for money - Government and Lottery support for film will continue”. A release on the DCMS’ website further states that the abolition of the UK Film Council would be “part of the Government's drive to cut costs and increase transparency, accountability and efficiency.”

The statement goes on to further explain that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will do further work over the summer to finalise the details and timing of these changes and explore further opportunities to improve accountability and efficiency. No formal deadline exists for an announcement of the groups’ final decision with regards the proposed closure of the UK Film council but a spokesperson for the DCMS tells IFTN that “the department is keen to finalise these decisions so it will be progressed as quickly as possible.”

In response to the announcement by the DCMS the UK Film Council’s chairman, Tim Bevan CBE, has stated that "Abolishing the most successful film support organisation the UK has ever had is a bad decision, imposed without any consultation or evaluation. People will rightly look back on today's announcement and say it was a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency. British film, which is one of the UK's more successful growth industries, deserves better. "Our immediate priority now is to press the Government to confirm that the funding levels and core functions that are needed to underpin British film are locked-in, especially at a time when filmmakers and film companies need more support than ever as they make the challenging transition into the digital age. To that end, we will work with the DCMS over the summer to identify how they can guarantee both continuity and safe harbour for British film."

These sentiments are echoed in the closing of Mr Woodward’s letter where he writes: “It’s important to stress that the Government has said it remains committed to both the current Film Tax Relief and to the principle of Lottery funding for film. To that end, our existing funded activities will continue to operate as normal while we work with the DCMS over the Summer to identify how they can guarantee both continuity and safe harbour for British film going forward.”

Finally, a statement from Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt who put forward the proposal to abolish the UK Film Council says: “The Government is committed to increasing the transparency and accountability of its public bodies, while at the same time reducing their number and cost.

“Many of these bodies were set up a considerable length of time ago, and times and demands have changed. In the light of the current financial situation, and as part of our drive to increase openness and efficiency across Whitehall, it is the right time to look again at the role, size and scope of these organisations.

“The changes I have proposed today would help us deliver fantastic culture, media and sport, while ensuring value for money for the public and transparency about where taxpayers’ money is spent.”

To read Jeremy Hunt's full proposal visit www.culture.gov.uk For more information about the work of the UK Film Council click here www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

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