BBC boosts British film industry

The Beeb will make a sizeable investment in British film over the next ten years.

Feb 23 2006

Having failed to punch its celluloid weight over the last few years, the BBC has given the British film industry a boost by announcing massive hikes in its film production and acquisition budget.

From 2007 there will be a 50% increase in film budgets, from £10 million to £15 million a year. Subject to a review, that figure could rise to £20 million in 2008.

A minimum of £50 million a year will also be invested in the acquisition of British films to be broadcast on the BBC over the next ten years.

All of the proposed investments are subject to the favourable settlement of the current licence fee negotiations, and it still amounts to only 1% of the BBC licence fee, but it still seems to be a step in the right direction.

Speaking of the announcement, Andrew Eaton, who recently produced the BBC flick 'A Cock and Bull Story', told Screen Daily 'I think it's really good news. It's a double whammy. Having sorted out the tax situation to give us a stable future and now this good news from the BBC, it really feels like the landscape could be significantly changed in the UK film industry.'

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