An independent industry report has concluded the film sector contributes a massive £4.5bn a year to the UK economy. With the industry proving resilient to the economic downturn its substantial contribution is welcomed while providing around 100,000 jobs. Thanks largely to the existing UK’s Film Tax Relief introduced in 2007, the film industry generates £13 for each £1 invested, with inward investment accounting for £3.6b of the sector’s contribution to the GDP.
The paper, titled ‘The Economic Impact of the UK Film Industry’ was commissioned by the UK Film Council, the Pinewood Group and post-production house Framestore.
The document highlights the financial importance of the film sector, of which three quarters is concentrated in the capital and the South East region. Of the 100,000 jobs created by the industry’s wider network, the core sector directly employs 36,000 people nationwide which has risen 7% from the latest figures published in 2006. Around 26,000 (55%) of these core jobs are based in London and other 5,800 (12%) in the South East, which hosts major film studios such as Pinewood and Shepperton.
As well as attracting many big productions to film in the capital, London is also confirmed to be at the top of the post-production game, gathering 20% of all film visual effects commissioned worldwide, a percentage that has doubled since 2005. The high specialization and collaborative approach of the many award-winning post houses around Soho helped them land contracts from top effects-laden productions of the past year including Avatar, 2012 or Where the Wild Things Are.
The report also provides a snapshot of the impact of film in related industries, including tourism. An impressive 10% (£1.9b) of revenues generated by foreign visits to the UK every year can be attributed to tourists coming to visit locations where famous films were shot. Initiatives such as Film London’s movie maps, encourage film lovers to discover corners featured in the Harry Potter films, Bridget Jones or Love Actually amongst many others.
Other sectors to benefit significantly from UK film production are national TV broadcasters (which generates £245m of revenue through films), sales of DVDs and Blue Ray (£124m) and related computer games (£85m).
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See the new case study of new Britsh Films. This section will be updated on a regaular basis, so as to keep you informed of new British Films coming out in the UK – BRITISH CINEMA 2010
News on Virgin Media Shorts competition and a chance to win a cash prize – ACCESS TO FUNDS
Seminars and Networking Events – A range of events and seminars hosted by individuals who are expert in their choosen professions - EVENTS
As you are aware, 100 PRINTS’ objective is to support British Independent Filmmakers develop better business practice.
2010 will see the emergence of new talent on the British Film scene. Here is a glimpse of some of UK Film productions. Take inspiration, understand your craft and develop.
Please keep revisiting, as we will be updating this post on a regular basis.
Film London and BBC Films have committed to a further three years of partnership to continue producing micro-budget films through its award-winning film-making scheme Microwave, it was today announced from the Cannes Film Festival.
With films like the BAFTA-nominated Shifty and teen romance Freestyle already completed and released in the UK, Microwave has established itself as a scheme which supports emerging talent move from short to feature film-making, championing creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. The extension secures yet more opportunities for emerging film-making talent in the UK and brings the total number of features made under the Microwave banner to 13.
The training-through-production scheme today also confirmed two new greenlit titles from the last round of applications. Ill Manors is a multi-character and music-led story, and the feature debut by musician and actor Ben Drew - aka Plan B – and produced by Atif Ghani. Also now part of the Microwave slate is Borrowed Time, from London Film School graduates Jules Bishop, directing, and Olivier Kaempfer producing, a comedy about rediscovering youth. As with previous years, each project will be produced on a budget of no more than £100,000 with up to £60,000 cash funding from Microwave and the remaining finance raised by the production teams. All projects also benefit from the scheme’s extensive mentoring and training programme.
Now in its fourth year, Microwave’s success to date confirms it as a unique, commercially minded training and production opportunity and a launch pad for UK film-makers. A clear example of this is writer and director Eran Creevy, who was nominated for an award at this year’s BAFTAs for his ‘outstanding debut’ Shifty, alongside names like Sam Taylor-Wood (Nowhere Boy) and Duncan Jones (Moon). Creevy is currently finalising finance for his next feature, Welcome to the Punch.
During its short life, Microwave has inspired production programmes with a similar spirit around the world and has enjoyed outstanding results. The scheme’s three completed features Mum & Dad, Shifty and Freestyle, have seen UK theatrical releases and sold abroad. Moreover, with Microwave’s fourth film, British Guide to Showing Off now in post production, Strawberry Fields currently shooting and Foxglove scheduled to shoot later this year, the scheme and the talent it supports are expected to make a lot of noise in the coming months.
To keep up to date with information about Microwave, visit the scheme’s dedicated website or follow us on Twitter.
The renaissance of Film4 is set to continue following an emphatic vote of approval from the incoming Channel 4 chief executive, David Abraham, who has increased the budget of the film financing division by 20 per cent.
The announcement, ahead of tomorrow’s release of the comedy Four Lions, directed by Chris Morris, comes after a period of sustained critical success following hits such as Last King of Scotland, Venus, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges and Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Oscars at last year’s Academy Awards. Stanley Tucci was nominated at this year’s Oscars for his performance in The Lovely Bones, directed by Peter Jackson.
Film 4′s controller Tessa Ross said the news that the division’s annual budget is to be increased from £8m to £10m offered “great hope” for Britain’s filmmakers. Ross has steadily built up the movie financing operation since Channel 4 closed its film production arm, FilmFour Ventures, in 2002 when it was losing £5m a year.
Abraham, who joins the broadcaster from UKTV, said: “Film4 embodies all that’s great about Channel 4′s place in our creative culture. Under my watch, investment in British film will continue to sit at the heart of Channel 4′s public service mission.”
The broadcaster’s reputation as a key player in the British film industry dates back to 1982 when its opening-day schedule included the feature film Walter, starring Ian McKellen as a mentally disabled man. Hits since then have included My Beautiful Laundrette, Trainspotting, Fever Pitch, The Madness of King George, The Motorcycle Diaries and This is England.
On Film 4′s slate for 2010 is the latest project from the writer and director Mike Leigh. Starring Jim Broadbent and Lesley Manville, Another Year follows the ups and downs of a happily married middle-aged couple over 12 months.
Then there’s Submarine, written and directed by Richard Ayoade, who is best known as a comedy actor in The IT Crowd. The film, a coming-of-age comedy, features Craig Roberts as a 15-year-old Swansea boy trying to cope with his parents’ impending break-up while he attempts to start a first relationship of his own.
The Japanese filmmaker Hideo Nakata has made the thriller Chatroom, a modern tale of a group of friends who meet online but find that the relationships they later form in the real world are altogether different.
NEDS, written and directed by Peter Mullan (and standing for non-educated delinquents), is the story of a boy who turns from altar server and prize-winning scholar to glue sniffer and knife-wielding thug.
After his success with The Last King of Scotland, the Scottish director Kevin Macdonald returns this year with The Eagle of the Ninth, a Roman epic set north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Film4 is hoping to receive further awards at the Cannes Film Festival, which opens next week. Another Year, Chatroom and Native Son, a short film about a troubled Scottish farm labourer, are all selected for the festival.
Film4′s biggest hits
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Danny Boyle was doubtful when Film4 approached him with an adaptation of the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup. But the strength of the screenplay, about a Mumbai slum teenager who wins the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, convinced him. The film was initially earmarked to go straight to DVD; it went on to win eight Academy Awards and grossed £250m.
Borat (2006) Sacha Baron Cohen’s sexist, homophobic, anti-semitic and gloriously offensive “shockumentary” attracted lawsuits, but the majority were unsuccessful, and none made much of a dent in the film’s £172m global box-office total.
Trainspotting (1996) The story of heroin addicts in Edinburgh marked the major international breakthrough of the actor Ewan McGregor and director Danny Boyle. The film cost £3.5m to make and grossed £72m.
In this video Jenn Lee, formerly of Voltage Pictures and assoc. producer of “The Hurt Locker” gives a first hand account into the struggles Nic Chartier and Voltage Pictures faced in trying to raise funds and ultimately sell “The Hurt Locker” to buyers. The video also features Christian Solomon of Grosvenor Park, Jeff Steele of FilmClosings Inc., and Nicolas Chartier’s own mom!
Lessons for independent filmmakers can come from every sphere of the world.
Listen to Zambian-born Franco Sacchi discuss his desire to work with filmmaker Bond Emeruwa.We hear from the Producers and Directors as they explain fully their understanding of their market.
These Nollywood filmmakers understand fully their target audience and what is required to connect with that audience.
Learn lessons from this case study, you will be inspired.
You have made your short film and now you want to move on to your next project. It could be a feature or another short. Would £30,000 be helpful to you?
2009 could be the year where you could gain mass recognition for the work you have done, as well as bank £30,000 towards your next film.
Last year, over 1500 film makers showed off their work through Virgin Media Shorts. Right now, the winners are working on their next film – with £30,000 funding.
Why not submit your film and be in with the opportunity to have your film seen by millions and also the chance of winning the prize.
16:00 BAFTA and Power to the Pixel present: Filmmakers’ Guide to the Digital Distribution Galaxy
Princess Anne Theatre, 195 Piccadilly, W1J 9LN
Learn how digital pioneers are harnessing the Internet and using new digital tools to market, distribute and finance their films in creative new ways. Discover how to reach global audiences online through alternatives to the traditional theatrically-led distribution model.
Now in its third year, Power to the Pixel: The Cross-Media Film Forum is a three-day multi-faceted event which will run at the start of this year’s London Film Festival. In this event at BAFTA, PttP Director Liz Rosenthal will present a wide range of the key innovations around digital distribution through a series of case studies and online presentations. For those wanting a capsule review of the inroads to new digital frontiers featured at previous PttP events and some of the newer developments, this session will reveal how filmmakers, producers and distributors can finance and distribute their future film projects by building a loyal fanbase online.
“We no longer have to rely on major corporations for things to be seen—we have Media that Matters to distribute new material and new voices and new points of view.”
-Tim Robbins, Actor
The Media That Matters Film Festival is the premiere showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. Local and global, online and in communities around the world, Media That Matters engages diverse audiences and inspires them to take action.
In this interview film director Spike Lee discusses the realities of being a international filmmaker.
Photo by Francis Armet
In this clip he speaks of the relationship between Hollywood and ‘Black’ films. He also discusses Hollywood’s theories about ‘black film’ travelling to foreign territories.
Other aspects of this clip include, Spikes’ thoughts on the importance of filmmakers investing in the marketing for their film and recognising that engaging your audience is as important as making the film.
Ishmahil Blagrove and Nadia Denton at 2008 bfm Film Festival launch
5th July 2009 -
Ishmahil Blagrove (Film/Documentary Producer who has worked for the BBC and Channel 4 and Founder of Rice n Peas Productions) had been kidnapped along with 20 other humanitarian activists, aid workers, an ex-US congresswoman, and a Noble Prize winner from Ireland (all from 11 countries) by the Israeli Authorities on Tuesday 30 June whilst trying to deliver medical supplies, school equipment, cement etc to the people of Gaza. The Israelis attacked their ship and forcibly arrested everyone on board, even though they had not entered Israeli waters or broken any laws.
Well I am pleased to inform you that they have all been released and the 5 or 6 British citizens (including my brother) should be landing at Heathrow Airport this afternoon at around 1.35pm. There is going to be a Press Conference but not sure of the details yet. This incident was being reported daily by Press TV and on some radio stations ie LBC.
There is a website called freegaza.org and they have been posting regular update.
Thanks for all your support and words of encouragement.
2nd July 2009 – “It is reported that Ishmahil Blagrove, Film-maker and founder of RicenPeas Films is currently being held in Ramla High Security Prison in Israel, along with other UK nationals and ex US senator Cynthia McKinney. Ishmahil was aboard the Free Gaza ship, Spirit of Humanity that was attempting to take aid and toys to the beseiged people of Gaza. Ishmahil was intending to make a film about the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israelis opened fire on the unarmed ship when it was 23 miles off the coast of Gaza, in international waters on Tuesday, 30th June. They then boarded the ship in Palestinian waters and arrested all on board including Mairead McGuire a Nobel Prize winner whose wherabouts are currently unknown. So far there has been little or no coverage of the incident.
Ishmahil’s work has previously been broadcast by both the BBC and Channel 4. His work includes: With or Without Fidel, Bang Bang! In Da Manor, Nine Nights, Acholi Wedding, This is our Country Too.”
Power to the Pixel is now accepting entries to The Pixel Pitch – an exciting new opportunity for cross-media film funding. This groundbreaking pitching forum is looking for stories that can span film, TV, online, mobile and gaming. Up to ten of the best UK and international projects will be selected to compete for the Babelgum Pixel Pitch Prize of £6,000.
Producer-led teams with projects that take advantage of the growth of new tools, platforms, services and devices to develop innovative ways of telling stories are invited to submit applications. Projects can be in development or works-in-progress, but all entries must have plans for release in a cinema or encompass a live event.
Offering three nights accommodation (for one person) to companies based outside London, selected teams will have ten minutes to present their cross-media projects to a hand-picked group of financiers, commissioners, tech companies, online portals and media companies in front of an audience of PTTP participants. All teams will receive feedback on their pitches and will benefit from one-to-one business meetings with potential partners and significant international publicity.
The Pixel Pitch takes place on 15 October during Power to the Pixel’s Cross-Media Film Forum at the Times BFI London Film Festival 14-16 October. The deadline for submissions is 14 August. Successful applicants will be notified by 4 September.
Further information and a downloadable application form can be found here.
Nelson George, African American Author and Filmmaker, points out the importance of understanding the film business and provides suggestions of things to do to make your film.
George is the executive producer of the Chris Rock hosted feature documentary, Good Hair, a look at hair weaves, relaxers and the international black hair economy.
A day of FREE film screenings, workshops and information on how to crack the film industry
On Sunday 27th September, the VAULT project will be taking over Brady Arts Centre and hosting a day of film screenings, workshops and information on how to crack the film industry.
The event will feature live musical performances from the world of soundtrack composition alongside some exciting celebrity guests.
All young people aged 14-19 from across the five Olympic boroughs are welcome to attend and will receive a goody bag full of great film gifts along with the opportunity to win their very own top of the range Video camera.
Sign-up before Monday 7th September for your chance to win a fantastic film related prize!
An interview with Independent Filmmaker, Haile Gerima. Maker of the documentary ‘Sankofa’, Ethiopian born Gerima, describes his journey from Ethiopia to Howard University.
Gerima speaks of his experiences in filmmaking and the uphill battle that independent filmmakers face. What struggles do independent filmmakers face in bringing projects to fruition? Gerima also talks about the issues surrounding his film ‘Sankofa,’ a widely acclaimed movie about slavery, and the influence his Ethiopian heritage has on his work.
This interview inspires Independent filmmakers to develop an inner understanding of themselves and the industry.
This slide show created by Alex Cameron shows you the cycle of how to make money from your film. This is something every Independent Filmmaker should have in their arsenal of knowledge.
Be Inspired!
To develop better business practice, join our EVENTS
Alrick Riley is a Director. He was the first Black British director to win a BAFTA in fact he won two!
Power to the Pixel is now accepting entries to The Pixel Pitch – an exciting new opportunity for cross-media film funding. This groundbreaking pitching forum is looking for stories that can span film, TV, online, mobile and gaming. Up to ten of the best UK and international projects will be selected to compete for the Babelgum Pixel Pitch Prize of £6,000.
