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DOCUTAH the Southern Utah International Film Festival

DOCUTAH is a Southern Utah International Film Festival presented by Dixie State College in St. George and takes place between the 8th and 17th September 2011.

The organisers advise that “festival goers come for the films, stay for the scenery and depart having experienced inspiration. By blending the attractions of breathtaking Southern Utah with a love of documentaries, the inaugural year encouraged 430 submissions; engaging professional and student film makers from 36 different countries.”

To watch trailers and find out more visit:

3rd September 2011

2011 BFI Statistical Yearbook

By Dano on 15-Aug-11 17:00 South West Screen

Earlier this month the BFI has announced the results of its 2011 Statistical Yearbook, the most authoritative and complete snapshot of the film landscape in the UK over the last 12 months. Key findings show that more people are watching more films across more platforms; cinema remains robust during the difficult economic climate; and inward investment is at its highest level ever.

Figures also put the UK as the third-largest filmed entertainment market in the world with British stories making up half of the decade’s 20 highest grossing films.

UK cinemas enjoyed another strong year, achieving record box office receipts (£988 million) with UK films attracting a 24% share of the box office, up from 17% in 2009. In total, 355 specialised, or ‘non-mainstream’, films were released in 2010, representing 64% of the total number of UK theatrical releases. Although grossing £66 million, these titles represent only a 6.5% share of total box office earnings, the majority of which is made up of big budget films such as Toy Story 3 (the highest grossing release of 2010) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. The huge critical and financial success of The King’s Speech, released in January 2011, will be reflected in next year’s Statistical Yearbook although the half year box office figures for 2011 released today reveal the multi award-winning film earned over £45 million, a record gross for an independent UK film.

Television (terrestrial, subscription and other digital multi-channel) is the most popular viewing medium and accounts for 80% of all films watched in UK. While actual sales of film on video were down 11% on 2009, sell-through DVD and Blu-ray remains the largest single revenue source for film in the UK market, worth £1.3 billion.

The value of UK production (including inward investment feature films, domestic feature films and co-production) in 2010 increased by 7% compared with 2009, making 2010 the highest production year on record. This increase was boosted by a strong level of inward investment – at £935 million this is the highest yet tracked and accounted for 80% of UK spend, demonstrating the value of inward investment to the UK.

For more information, see the press release; the full 2011 Statistical Yearbook; the half year UK Production and Box Office figures for 2011.

25th August 2011

DCMS Launches Film Policy Review

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced today that it is launching a film policy review which will set out the future priorities for supporting film in the UK. The principal objectives of the review will be to identify the market failures preventing the creation of a more successful British film industry, determining how best to set policy directions for Lottery funding and public funding so as to support growth in the UK film sector, developing and retaining UK talent, and increasing audience demand through education and access to screen heritage.

It will look at skills support for British creativity, film development and production, distribution and exhibition as well as the support structure needed for continuing to attract international filmmakers to the UK. Lottery money for British film will increase by 60% to around £43 million a year after the 2012 Olympic and Paralymic Games. The review will be led by Lord Chris Smith, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, working with a panel of industry experts including representatives from the Board of BFI Governors.

The panel will comprise: Will Clarke, innovative film distributor and co-founder of Optimum Releasing; Lord Julian Fellowes, the Oscar®-winning writer, actor and director; Matthew Justice, film producer and Managing Director of Big Talk Productions; Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment; Tim Richards, Chief Executive of Vue Entertainment; Tessa Ross, Channel 4 Controller of Film and Drama; Libby Savill, Head of Film and Television for Olswang; and Iain Smith, producer and Chair of the British Film Commission Advisory Board. Lord Smith and the review panel is expected to report by the end of the year. Greg Dyke, Chair of the BFI, said: “The BFI is very keen to work with Chris Smith on the Policy Review, which will principally look at how the film industry in Britain can grow further.  We welcome being fully involved in the process and are glad that three of our Governors will be on the panel and that we will be leading on part of the review itself in the areas of learning and audience engagement. During this time, we will be developing the BFI’s own strategic forward plan, which will obviously be influenced by the Government policy review.” Complete the online survey here. Deadline for submissions is 9 September. The Review is expected to report to Mr Vaizey by the end of the year.

28th July 2011

Arts and The Creative Economy

Arts Council England has just published a major strategic piece of work by Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy.

Three papers are published together to illustrate synergies and strengthen links between the arts and the creative economy. This includes a focus on the role of the Arts Council in supporting innovation and growth across the creative economy through the delivery of its Strategy: Achieving Great Art for Everyone. It also includes a focus on the role of arts organisations, local authorities and a wider range of partners and investors in blending arts and business development.

The papers are introduced by Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England; and Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative industries.

Download the full report now:

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication_archive/supporting-growth-arts-economy/

26th July 2011

EastEnders Actress Shana Swash Comes of Age in retro film Gang Girls

Film Hair and Make-up Artist as well as award winning filmmaker, Sharon Holloway, has just completed a new short film with a retro feel. Gang Girls, starring Shana Swash, was shot in and around Southampton and celebrates the south coast’s diverse retro and vintage talents. Produced by Sharon’s hairdressing salon, Vintage Hair Lounge, which is based in the City’s French Quarter, Gang Girls delights in showcasing mod and rockabilly style against a backdrop of local waterfront locations. Sharon explained the film process and why she did the film:

“I was inspired to do this film because I wanted to portray a fresh interpretation of local “vintage” life. Dozens of people turned out to take part, from Hampshire scooter clubs to Bournemouth burlesque performers, so a big thank you to them all. Aside from getting our main girl gang cast ready with sixties styled hair and make-up, along with clothes by Classy Chassis, once I turned the camera on, it only took 4 hours to shoot the whole piece! Then we went in to the studio with singer Miss Annie to record a new version of classic sixties anthem Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) for the soundtrack and then on to the post-production work with Chair of the Isle of Wight Film Network, Andrew Wilks, who helped create the stylish finished product. I am over the moon with the result. You can watch the film on YouTube at http://youtu.be/T7uzLvJuFnw  and we’d be delighted to hear what people think of it.”

Sharon Holloway is the latest new member of WMG and we released her press release to the Arts pages of The Guardian and The Times as well as to The Daily Echo and The County Press.

Photograph Courtesy of Scott Chalmers.

28th May 2011