Film Agency News
22nd June 2009
Film Agency for Wales response to the Digital Britain Report
The Film Agency for Wales welcomes the publication of Lord Stephen Carter’s Digital Britain report and endorses its clear recognition of the crucial importance of enabling access for all to the latest communications infrastructure – providing connectivity and the opportunity to participate; as well as advocating the vital role of the creative industries as a key growth sector.
A significant step forward has been made in the potential to democratise and create new business opportunities by signalling a new contestable media fund, and in looking towards creating new business models in this digital age;
- we are greatly encouraged by the report’s recognition that our creative talent and innovation in the creative industries should be protected – as with the proposed anti-piracy measures – and promoted;
- that the enormous opportunities that are opening up for cinemas that acquire digital screens, 3D and satellite link-up technology is acknowledged. This is transforming the culturally vital social experience of cinema, allowing venues to reach new audiences and broaden what they programme, showing live opera, theatre and other events via the cinema screen for example; as well as accessing films at the same time as the most commercial of operators. The important caveat to that however, is that this technology remains cost prohibitive for the majority of the independent and specialist cinemas, which are at the heart of many of the multi-arts centres of Wales, as well as smaller cinemas that may offer the only provision in their area. It is therefore a central concern of the Film Agency to work in partnership with our colleagues at the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Assembly Government, to ensure that Wales does not miss out in this respect;
- we welcome outlined plans to allow commercial access to so-called ‘orphan works’ – that is, content where the rights owner is not known or cannot be found to clear the work for further use. Proposed legislation will allow such works to be used, under certain safeguards, so that the National Library of Wales’ Screen and Sound Archive, and other archives in Wales and elsewhere in the UK, will be able to preserve and provide access to this material. This will compliment the UK-wide Screen Heritage Strategy, as spearheaded by the UK Film Council and the BFI, to which Wales is eager to fully participate and benefit, subject to resources;
- we are particularly delighted to see the resounding recognition of the importance of film in education – a core area of the Film Agency’s activities. Collectively the Film Agency for Wales, in partnership with the other National and Regional Screen Agencies, First Light, Film Club, Film Education, the BFI and the UK Film Council, have advocated the many benefits of film education – including improved IT skills, communication skills, self-confidence and social engagement and we are keen for film to be more widely embedded in the curriculum, as well as available to all young people across Wales through a variety of means, including cinemas, after-school clubs, through community initiatives and via on-line learning resources.
We look forward to working in partnership to further the aims and objectives of the Digital Britain recommendations, realising more fully the benefits of the digital age.
Peter Edwards, Chairman
Download Digital Britain Final Report (pdf)
Notes to Editors:
Film Agency for Wales
Established in July 2006, the Film Agency for Wales is the sole Agency for film in Wales, with a remit to ensure that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented in Wales, the UK and the world. As a strategic agency, the Film Agency aims to facilitate the emergence of a viable and sustainable Welsh film industry and to promote a vibrant and dynamic film culture.
The Film Agency for Wales is funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the UK Film Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, via Creative Business Wales, the latter of which was set up to support, encourage and increase the range and number of films being produced in Wales and to foster the abundance of creative talent in Wales.
The Agency's priority is to identify and nurture Welsh filmmaking talent – particularly writers, directors, writer-directors and producers – by supporting and encouraging the development of their work, accomplishments and ambitions. We support a broad policy on film education to complement our central priority of creating and maintaining a dynamic film culture across Wales. We aim to enhance film literacy for all and stimulate an appetite for specialised, cultural and non-mainstream films.
For further information please contact Ben Hooper on 0790 873 8763 or use our contact form.
