The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for setting policy to support the British film industry through funding, tax incentives, and the Cultural Test, which determines if a film qualifies as British; the DCMS works with organizations like the British Film Institute (BFI) and provides lottery funding and financial support for production. The DCMS also negotiates co-production agreements and issues film certificates to allow companies to claim tax relief.

1. +
British Film:
Cultural & Economic Factors

2. +
What
defines a
‘British’
film?
Recent developments include:
•UK Film Policy Review (DCMS)
•BFI taken over from UK Film Council

3. +
Department for Culture, Media and
Sport
 Is
responsible for setting UK film culture and industry
policy. It works to help create a strong film industry
that brings cultural and economic benefits to the UK.
 Theyactively promote British film through funding
and support of key initiatives. They work with other
government departments on policy that affects the
industry. For example, they work with the HM
Treasury on film tax relief.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/creative_industries/3269.aspx

4. +
Support for British film
 Working in partnership with industry bodies, they strive to
create a sustainable, stable and successful film industry that
brings both cultural and economic benefits to the UK. To
achieve this, they provide direct financial support for the
production of culturally British films. The main forms of direct
financial support are:
 grant in aid and lottery funding for film-making, distributed through a
number of organisations, including the British Film Institute
 tax incentives
 Film tax relief is worth more than £100 million a year. Lottery
funding for film, currently around £27 million a year, is set to
increase to around £43 million annually by 2014.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/creative_industries/3269.aspx

5. +
Future for British film
 Commissioned by DCMS and produced
by an eight-strong independent panel
chaired by Lord Chris Smith, the
recently published
A Future for British Film – it begins with the audience
makes a number of recommendations
designed to ensure that film is one of the
sectors which plays a full role in driving
growth, while also maximising audience
access to films of every kind throughout
the UK.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/creative_industries/3269.aspx

6. +
Work of DCMS
 Lottery Funding
 The two key mechanisms that currently support the British film industry
– the film tax relief and the dedicated pot of Lottery funding will
remain.
 Co-production agreements
 Responsible for negotiating and maintaining the UK's film co-
production agreements.
 Co-production agreements cover films where production is shared
between British and international partners. They allow filmmakers from
both countries to work together using their respective strengths and
facilities, to create films that are culturally relevant to both parties.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/creative_industries/3269.aspx

7. +
Work of DCMS
 British Film Certificates
 Responsible for issuing British Film Certificates on
recommendation from the British Film Institute, so that the film
production company can apply for film tax relief.
 The British Film Institute can also issue EC Certificates of
Nationality.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/creative_industries/3269.aspx

8. +
UK Film Council to BFI
 In April 2011 the Film Council was shut down and its
responsibilities placed with the British Film Institute
 The BFI is now the lead body for film in the UK which includes
a role as a lottery distributor, with responsibility for
 funding film development and production;
 training;
 distribution and exhibition; supporting film UK-wide;
 film certification,
 the Cultural Test and co-production;
 strategic development; industry research and statistics.

9. +
Cultural Test
 In order to
qualify for tax
relief and lottery
funding, a
proposed film
has to pass what
is termed the
Cultural Test

10. +
CULTURAL CONTENT…
A1. Film set in the UK
A2. Lead characters
A3. Subject matter and/or underlying
material
A4. Language of original dialogue

11. +
CULTURAL
CONTRIBUTION…
B. Contribution of the film to British
Culture

12. CULTURAL
+
HUBS…
C1. Principal photography/Visual effects/Special
effects/Research and Development/Shooting/Visual
design/Layout and Storyboarding
C2. Music recording/Audio post production/Picture
post production/voice recording for animation

13. +
CULTURAL
PRACTITIONERS…
D1. Director
D2. Scriptwriter
D3. Producer
D4. Music composer
D5. Lead actors
D6. Majority of cast
D7. Key staff
D8. Majority of crew

14. Control (Corbijn,
+
2007):
Cultural content – UK setting,
British characters
Cultural hubs – UK based
production company (Becker Films);
Cultural practitioners – Dutch
Director, UK cast & crew;

15. + This is England
(Meadows, 2007)
Cultural content – UK setting,
British characters
Cultural hubs – UK based
production company (Big Arty
Productions);
Cultural practitioners – British
Director, UK cast & crew;

16. +
Further funding
BBC and Film Four are two additional major sources of funds for UK
independent film