London – 18 November 2009
The UK Film Council today welcomes the measures announced in the Queen's Speech to tackle online piracy and to embed Channel 4's commitment to film.
The measures included in the Digital Economy Bill would involve two stages: a first stage process of legal action and educating consumers about online copyright, followed, if necessary, by a second stage in which reserve powers would be used to introduce technical measures, such as broadband disconnection.
Tim Bevan CBE, Chairman of the UK Film Council, said that the proposals should leave persistent pirates in no doubt that what they are doing is wrong and damaging to both the film sector and wider economy, adding:
"Piracy hits film revenues, threatens jobs, and restricts reinvestment back into new movies. The digital film future is a hugely exciting prospect, but one obvious downside to a fully digital world is that piracy will be made even easier, which is why we believe strongly that these measures should be supported and introduced as speedily as possible."
The Digital Economy Bill also proposes an update to the functions of Channel 4, all of which will be enshrined in law. One of the measures will be a statutory requirement to invest in film. The UK Film Council welcomes this measure as an important way of ensuring both public and private investment in UK film production and talent are protected into the digital future.
John Woodward, Chief Executive of the UK Film Council, said:
"Including film in Channel 4's remit for the first time is a prize the UK Film Council has been chasing for many years. Channel 4 has backed some great British films over the years, and strengthening its role in film production even further can only be good for the future of the UK film sector and UK film culture. For as long as Channel 4 has not been required by legislation to make films, Film 4 has remained on a knife-edge. The new legislation will finally embed film at the centre of Channel 4's public service remit."
For more information, please contact:
Oliver Foster, Head of Press and Public Affairs
T: 020 7861 7508
M: 07920 560509
E: oliver.foster@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
UK FILM COUNCIL (www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk)
- The UK Film Council is the Government-backed lead agency for film in the UK, supporting the UK film industry, celebrating UK film culture and nurturing UK film talent at home and abroad.
- Since its creation in 2000 the UK Film Council has backed more than 900 films, shorts and features, which have won over 300 awards and entertained more than 200 million people around the world.
- Its support develops new filmmakers, funds exciting new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad. In addition, it funds the British Film Institute.
- Films backed by the UK Film Council include Fish Tank, Bright Star, Man on Wire, In the Loop, Bend it like Beckham, The Constant Gardener, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, Red Road, St Trinian's, This is England, Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland, Vera Drake and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
- Current UK Film Council funding initiatives include:
- the world's first Digital Screen Network, which has invested in 240 digital screens in cinemas across the country, increasing film choice, bringing the 3D experience to a wider audience, and ensuring the UK has more digital screens than any other European country;
- over 200 film societies and independent regional film venues;
- UK film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival;
- working with Skillset, the UK skills and training industry body for the creative industries, to enable almost 7000 people to further their filmmaking careers;
- giving over 20,000 young people the opportunity to get involved in filmmaking through First Light Movies and Mediabox;
- sponsoring the pilot and now the current rollout of FILMCLUB to thousands of schools, introducing new generations of children to the best of British and international cinema.
Loading...
