Page 28 - 23_Bafta ACADEMY_Om Puri_ok

news digest
money into light
Is there a British Film Industry?”, the recent report by the all- party House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee stressed, principally:
• the importance of fiscal incentives to maintaining and increasing the level of film produc- tion in the UK, and encouraging the distribution of those films not only in the UK but internationally;
• the need to tackle the lack of investment in new British films by UK public service broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, and Channels 4 and 5, which lags massively behind their European counterparts and has actually declined in recent years. Studies by the UK Film Council have shown that on average only three in every hundred films shown on channels 1-5 are new British films less than eight years old;
• the continuing importance of the National Lottery in support- ing the production of new distinc- tively British films.
Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, was singled out by the MPs as being “almost cursory about the BBC’s approach to investment in British films. There was little to suggest that the BBC had a serious strategy.
“Mr Dyke could not even decide whether the £10m put aside for film investment was the subject of serious discussion or simply as much as Alan Yentob [BBC director of drama] could extract from the BBC budget.”
Responding to the report, UK Film Council chairman Sir Alan Parker said: “Gerald Kaufman and his colleagues on the Committee have produced a comprehensive, wide-ranging report which tackles the challenges facing our industry head on.
“The UK film industry is currently enjoying a run of well-deserved successes with Calendar Girls and Johnny English and Lottery-funded films such as Bend It Like Beckham and 28 Days Later, but without the continued support of the National Lottery and the fiscal incentives provided by the Treasury, the majority of new distinctively UK films would not be made.
“As this report recognises, the key challenges are to encourage both the production and distribu- tion of new UK films so that they are seen not only in the UK but internationally as well, to tackle the pitifully poor record of UK broadcasters’ investment in new distinctively British films, and to ensure that the film industry itself takes advantage of the huge depth of talent available across the country.
“The UK Film Council will be studying this report carefully, and taking on board its recommenda- tions, and I hope that all others involved will do the same.”
sFcreen nation awards 2003 ilmmakers Spike Lee and John Akomfrah, actor Rudolph Walker, and broadcaster Clive Myrie led the list of prizewin- ners at this year’s Screen Nation Film and Television Awards.
Formerly the bfm awards, it’s the UK’s only awards ceremony to celebrate and reward the achievements of black profes- sionals in film and TV.
Other winners included Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things); Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things); Lennie James (Buried); Naomie Harris (The Project, White Teeth); 3 Non Blondes - Tamika Empson, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Ninia
Benjamin; writer Tunde Babalola (Single Voices, Degsy ); presenter June Sarpong; Caroline Chikezie; Kwame Kwei Armah; Angela Griffin; and, in international recognition, Laurence Fishburne and Queen Latifah.
Films and programmes which also won awards were: White Teeth, Bare Knuckle Boxer, History Of Reggae, Emotional Backgammon and City Of God.
tVhe eyes have it
ision Charity was formed in 1973 to help visually impaired and dyslexic chil- dren. It was created from interest within the broadcast, professional and business television industries and has since expanded its reach to a much wider audience.
Our aim is to raise money to help children, under the age of 18 - who suffer from visual impair- ment, blindness or dyslexia and to help to maximise their personal potential and enjoy a better quality of life.
Vision Charity hold a number of fundraising events throughout the year including, golf, fun runs, Marathon, Quiz nights, local spon- sored activities throughout England and Scotland, with the biggest of them all, the Annual Vision Ball, held in December in Le Meridien, Grosvenor House, London.
All monies raised go directly to buying equipment or services specifically donated to a school or organisation catering for these specific disabilities. There are no fixed overheads in running the charity, all services are donated free by members.
The entire television, home video and audio industries and their respective suppliers and ser- vants support Vision Charity and
its aims in all events and help to raise around £200,000 a year. Much more help is required! Peter H Thompson
More info available at www.visioncharity.org.uk
lBondon film festival
ookended by the opening gala, In The Cut, and the closing night film, Sylvia, the Times/bfi London Film festival will be screening more than 300 films from 45 countries.
Running from October 22- November 6, the festival also includes Guardian Lectures with Neil LaBute and Holly Hunter, and Masterclasses with cinematogra- pher Anthony Dod Mantle and filmmaker Christopher Guest.
As well as promising the best of contemporary world cinema there’s a large Archive section of screenings including old British favourites like Thorold Dickinson’s The Queen Of Spades (1949), and David Lean’s Summer Madness (1955)
More info at www.lff.org.uk
47
th
eT
ment show and hi def digital
seminar takes place at Elstree Studios from October 17-19.
Admission to the show is free but tickets are required for the seminar (£20 non members, £10 members). More info from Frances Russell – britcinematogra- phers@compuserve.com; Wendy Laybourn – wendy@bksts.com
Photos l-r: Sir Alan Parker; Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dirty Pretty Things and a scene from Sylvia; Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle
lstree events
he BSC/BKSTS’ new equip-
26