This afternoon it will be announced that the UK Film Council is to be scrapped, an astonishing and unexpected decision by the DCMS (The Department For Culture, Media and Sport). Apparently John Woodward, the UK Film Council CEO, told staff about it earlier today and the Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to inform the House of Commons this afternoon.

Apparently Jeremy Hunt insists that “government and Lottery support for film will continue for the British Film Industry”; but this is a move that has astonished many and will seriously affect the current state of British filmmaking.

The death of the Film Council is just one of the 55 agencies that the DCMS will announce that are to be scrapped later this afternoon. The official details are now all on the Departement of Cultures website here

Tim Bevan, Chairman of the Film Council also issued this response

“Abolishing the most successful film support organisation the UK has ever had is a bad decision, imposed without any consultation or evaluation,” said Bevan. “People will rightly look back on today’s announcement and say it was a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency. British film, which is one of the UK’s more successful growth industries, deserves better.

“Our immediate priority now is to press the Government to confirm that the funding levels and core functions that are needed to underpin British film are locked-in, especially at a time when filmmakers and film companies need more support than ever as they make the challenging transition into the digital age. To that end, we will work with the DCMS over the summer to identify how they can guarantee both continuity and safe harbour for British film.”