At the end of my recent article about the new UK government pulling the funding rug from under the feet of the BFI’s National Film Centre, I wondered about the future for the UK Film Council and today I got my answer.
Deadline have a good run down of the details, suffice to say it’s not good news. In fact it’s worse than feared as the culture department is having its budget slashed and the UK Film Council will feel it to the tune of 25% of its funding cut over the next four years.
The UK Film Council’s remit is wide ranging and its impact on the UK film industry cannot be understated. It funds and aids film development, is committed to enhancing the cinema going experience across the UK, funds the London and Edinburgh film festivals and deals with Film education and archiving. They have become a vital part of the UK’s film industry, and while their good work will continue the effects of this cut will be felt across each of these endeavours.
Again, I feel the need to point out that the economic situation will require everyone to breathe a little deeper, and we will continue to enjoy a healthy film industry while harsher cuts are felt by people who are truly in need of government aid, but it is important to read as far between the lines as possible and ask the question of where the Arts stand in the eyes of our new government.
The UK Film Council was set up by the recently defeated Labour government and the sword of Damocles is now in the hands of a new government, whose campaign against unelected bodies in charge of public money has long been running. Ed Valzey, then a shadow arts minister, gave an indication of what his plans would be if elected, but now the future is less clear.
We’re watching and waiting for more news, good or bad.
