Channel 4 and BBC asked to take UKFC funding

LONDON, UK - The government has asked Channel 4 and the BBC to bring forward proposals for managing the UKFC budget. The UK Film Council was axed as part of wider cuts on the arts that have shocked the film industry and had been condemned by top British industry figures including Hollywood heavyweight Clint Eastwood. The BBC has been involved in talks with the government about how the organization would take the UKFC funding.

Creative director Alan Yentob said at The Media Festival Arts sponsored by Broadcast, that The question is which organisation has the skills to operate these funds.

Is there an organisation that can be remodelled without putting in extra resource? The BBC is definitely involved in this discussion. UK culture secretary Jeremy Hunt also attended the festival and was highly critical of the UKFC as it spent 24% of its annual budget on administration, and that the £3 million should be given directly to filmmakers instead. The UK Film industry summit was also held yesterday with Culture minister Ed Vaizey  to help formulate a final decision on future government support for filmmaking. The BFI, The Arts Council, Shepperton and Pinewood Studios were among the invitees.

film industry network members