BBC told to do more to help UK film industry
The BBC should examine whether it is doing enough to support the British film industry, it acknowledged today.
The Corporation said at a select committee in the House of Commons that it was time to “rebalance” the schedule in favour of UK films instead of US imports.
Recent figures show that in the first half of 2004 BBC1 showed just 11 recent British films – made in the last eight years – which represents only 5% of its total output for that period.
The UK Film Council today welcomed the statement by the BBC that it should look at the possibility of investing more money in British movies, adding that it was “long overdue”.
Asked about the BBC’s commitment to the British film industry, Director General Mark Thompson said: “British film and the development and support of the British film industry by broadcasters is very important.”
In the past there has been “little access to the airwaves” for British films, he said, adding: “Four years ago there was only a handful, five, six or seven, British films shown on peak time on BBC1.”
He said that this year they were trying to increase the number to 70.
“One of the questions we need to look at inside the BBC is whether £10 million is enough a year (to support the British film industry) or whether we should provide a bigger role.”
But the director general sounded a note of warning, saying that low quality British movies should not make it onto the TV screens automatically.
He said: “A lot does depend on the kind of films that we make. Films that fail at the box office are not successful with TV audiences.”
But he added: “I think the rebalancing towards British films as opposed to low-quality American films makes sense.”
Asked whether the BBC was going to spend more money funding British movies he said: “We should look at that... the answer is ’yes’ if the high quality British films are there.
“A key part of this is trying to work with the film industry and the Film Council to make sure that the supply of films is going to work with the audiences.
“Over time, I would welcome a chance to show more high quality British feature films and less poor quality American ones.”
A spokesman for the UK Film Council said: “The public acknowledgement that the current level of BBC investment in development, production, and acquisition of British films is insufficient, is extremely welcome. Improvement is long overdue.”
