MINISTER PROMOTES BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY

FILMS Minister Janet Anderson has praised the British film industry at the Sundance Film Festival, saying that it was flourishing with many British actors and films.
Anderson said: “Successful British films, such as ‘Billy Elliot’, ‘Chicken Run’, ‘The Full Monty’, ‘Mrs Brown’ and ‘Notting Hill’ are fabulous entertainment, which generate revenues which should help to finance more great films.
“The Government wants Britain to become a hive of film-making activity and a centre for expertise and excellence. Therefore, they have introduced a number of initiatives for film to ensure that we see a flourishing and sustainable British film industry in the future.”
The initiatives have included £87 million of lottery money invested in film production in the UK since 1995 and the introduction of tax incentives in 1997 which have already provided over £100 million of direct benefit to the film production industry in the UK during the last three financial years. April 2000 saw the establishment of the Film Council, with around £150 million to invest in the film industry over the next three years.
The Minister will also be visiting the Chicago Film Office to learn how they work alongside the Mayors Office to attract filmmakers to the city. (CD)