Ten film festivals across the UK are set to benefit from a three-year £4.5m Lottery funding package as part of a new UK Film Council strategy to raise the profile of British film and extend its audiences.
The funding announcement, made by Culture Secretary James Purnell ahead of the closing gala event of the Times BFI London Film Festival, revealed that £1.25m a year for three years will go to up to two film festivals of major international and national significance which aim to support new talent and showcase films internationally, and a further £250,000 a year will go to up to eight festivals of national significance, to give UK audiences access to a richer and diverse film experience. John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, said, Weve got a very diverse array of film festivals in the UK, achieving great results with relatively little funding. With a bit more targeted support we believe that the bar can be raised.