Film delivers massive benefits, Mayor says, at start of The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival

London Mayor Ken Livingstone is supporting The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival for the fifth year running, including the Mayor of London Gala screening (Monday October 24) of ‘Separate Lies’, directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellows.
With Film London, the capital’s film and media agency, and the London Development Agency's Creative London initiative, funding of £130,000 has been given to support a range of initiatives, aimed at strengthening connections with the capital's film and media industry and helping a wider range of Londoners to enjoy the festival.
For the second year running Film in the City will take festival films beyond central London to local cinemas across the capital, with ten films going to six venues in six London boroughs.
Also taking place for a second time is Screen on the Square, bringing three days of free outdoor screenings to Trafalgar Square, with a selection of films from innovative festival shorts to classic Chaplin.
The Mayor said: “Film delivers massive benefits to London both culturally and economically. I am very pleased that Londoners can once again sample the London Film Festival in Trafalgar Square and see films at venues around the capital. London's reputation as a place to make films in is also being enhanced with several titles featuring London, as a backdrop to films like Separate Lies and ‘The Constant Gardener’, and films such ‘The Brothers Grimm’, which have taken advantage of the capital's world-class postproduction facilities.”
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Festival in what has been a fantastic year for film in London. It is great to see the Festival happening at the same time as major films such as the Da Vinci Code and Children of Men are shooting in the capital.”
(GB)