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BBC and C4 look at taking over UK Film Council role
The government has asked the BBC and Channel 4 to draw up proposals that would see them take over the responsibilities of the UK Film Council.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt shocked the film and TV industry in July when he abruptly announced the organisation was to be axed as part of the government's austerity drive.
No alternative proposals for administering the National Lottery funds were put forward at the time, and at last week's The Media Festival Arts, sponsored by Broadcast, BBC creative director Alan Yentob said: "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."
A spokeswoman confirmed that the BBC "had been asked by the government to take part in a consultation to look at plans for the future of film funding in the UK".
The government has also approached C4 and it is currently putting together proposals about how it could take on the funding and core functions of the UKFC, including supporting new talent.
Also speaking at the festival, Hunt criticised the UKFC for spending 24% of its funds on administration, arguing that this £3m per annum should be given more directly to film-makers.
He added that his two priorities were to support culturally-valuable films that do not make money and ensure there are more big British hits.
"I'm concerned about the number of films that were backed but never released... and the fact that [while] three years ago, five of the top 20 European film-makers were British, that's gone down to one. The package we will announce will solve both of those problems."
www.broadcastnow.co.uk
