Blow for film festival as UK funding body is scrapped

Published on Monday 26 July 2010 19:14

THE UK FILM Council - which in the past has provided vital support for the Edinburgh International Film Festival - has been wound up as part of the new coalition government's efficiency drive.

• Director Hannah McGill warned the film festival faced 'very challenging times'. Picture: Jane Barlow

The Department for Culture Media and Sport announced yesterday that the UK Film Council, which channels funding for the film industry in the UK, is to be abolished.

Over the past three years, the UK Film Council has provided a vital 1.9 million grant to the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which helped the festival to support and discover new film-makers.

Yesterday, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the cut was part of the government's drive to: "cut costs and increase transparency, accountability and efficiency."

He added: "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 to deliver fantastic culture, media and sport, while ensuring value for money for the public and transparency about where taxpayers money is spent."

The decision was greeted with shock by Tim Bevan, chairman of the UK film council, who said "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."

He added: "British film, which is one of the UK's more successful growth industries, deserves better."

A spokeswoman for Creative Scotland said: "We echo Tim Bevan's comments that the priority is to ensure the UK government confirms its commitment to the UK film industry and guarantees that the necessary support structures and investment available for film in the UK continue long-term."

Earlier this year, Hannah McGill, director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, said the festival faced "very challenging" times ahead as the 1.9m grant from the UK Film Council ran out.

The UK Film Council, which supports festivals across Britain, gave EIFF 1.9m over three years in 2008 to help support its reputation for discovering new work.

However, the council had to discontinue the support when it was asked to find 25m in savings because of the need to transfer funds to the 2012 Olympics.

Pete Wishart, MP, the SNP's culture, media and sport spokesman, said: "I am disappointed that the abolition of the UK Film Council has been announced without any consultation or notice whatsoever. The UK Film Council supports a number of initiatives in Scotland, as well as being a major sponsor in the Edinburgh Film Festival.".