The UK Film Council

1. From 1 April 2011, the British Film Institute (BFI) will be the UK Government’s lead strategic body for film.  
2. The BFI will be taking a partnership approach for promoting British film internationally, working with BBC Worldwide, BAFTA, Film London and, over time, others.
3. The UK Film Council is due to cease trading at the latest by the end of March 2012 – however many of its core functions and activities will already have transferred and, from 1 April 2011, it will have ceased to be the National Lottery distributor for film, with this responsibility having passed to the BFI. 
4. After 31st March 2012, it will be for the BFI, in consultation with the Government, the film sector and other stakeholders, to decide on future film policy and funding priorities.
5. The Film Fund for film development and production is currently £15 million a year, excluding recoupment (all of which, as is currently the case, will top up the Film Fund’s annual budget and will be reinvested into making more British films).
   The BFI has indicated its intention to increase that by 20% to £18 million in 2011/12.