Film Committee

The Film Committee is comprised of the following members:

Iain Softley (Chair), Andrew Gillman, Antonia Bird, Charles Sturridge,David Yates, Jim Gillespie, John Goldschmidt, John Madden, Julian Jarrold, Kevin Macdonald, Mike Barker, Neil Thompson, Oliver Parker, Paul Greengrass, Piers Haggard, Roger Michell, Susanna White, Tom Hooper, Udayan Prasad

Report

A lot has been happening in the area of film policy over the last year, with the CEO, President and Chair discussing some important directors’ issues with the new Government.  A small group of us are determined to press ahead with the good work done by the committee under Roger Michell's stewardship, to ensure that it continues to function as a democratic forum with full control of its agenda.

It is becoming clear that directors and independent producers need to find more ways to work together in our common interest, to make more and better British films. This relationship will be one of our active concerns over the coming year.

Film funding remains key. With the demise of the Film Council, we are keen for close dialogue with the BFI to ensure that directors are going to be central to its thinking as it attempts to reshape itself as an effective modern instrument of support for the UK film industry.

A response has been submitted to the DCMS Film Policy Review led by Chris Smith, but we will be making further representations over the next few months, including on extending the tax incentive to high end drama, and on the need for Broadcasters to make far more substantial commitments to funding, purchasing and presenting British films to British audiences.

Iain Softley