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.