BBC Trust

BBC Films is one of three public bodies (along with Channel 4 Films and the BFI) that provides significant public funding for film in the UK. Part of BBC Vision, it has an annual budget of around £12 million and typically produces eight feature films per year.

The Trust is required to approve the BBC Films strategy. It has done so - endorsing the role the BBC plays in supporting a healthy UK film industry - whilst making some comments and recommendations which have now been incorporated into the strategy. These include:

• The Trust's ambition for BBC Films is that it should invest in distinctive films, take creative risks and support projects that the commercial sector might not
• BBC Films acknowledge in its strategy that licence fee payer awareness is very low. The Trust supports its objective to do more to increase audience recognition and impact
• The Trust wants BBC Films to make more impact on television by attracting greater audience reach and appreciation, in particular by building a stronger and more consistent presence on BBC Two
• It is evident that the presence of BBC Films creates significant benefits for the rest of the industry and the BBC Trust would like to see BBC Films continue to develop partnerships with other organisations
• One of BBC Films objectives is to develop UK creative talent. The Trust believes BBC Films can use its place within BBC Vision to access television talent which would help it achieve this end
• On the issue of funding levels, BBC Films will continue to invest an average of £12 million each year for the remainder of the current licence fee settlement which runs until 2013. The Trust has decided it would not be appropriate to pursue an increase in funding for BBC Films, at a time when the corporation faces some difficult decisions to meet the terms of the new licence fee settlement.

BBC Trustee, David Liddiment, who led the review, said;

"BBC Films has a key role to play in supporting a healthy UK film industry and delivers real benefits to licence fee payers. The Trust would like to see BBC Films continue to take creative risks and developing UK film projects that the commercial sector might not."

The Trust asked organisations including the UK Film Council, Channel 4, PACT and the British Film Institute to consider whether the BBC Films strategy was aligned with the BBC's public purposes. The Trust considered these responses, alongside discussions with BBC Films, to decide what changes it wanted BBC Films make to its strategy.

Notes to Editors

• BBC Films has today published its strategy. 
• As part of its review the BBC Trust consulted the UK Film Council, PACT, Channel 4 and the British Film Institute
• The Trust approved the BBC Films strategy earlier this year but put publication on hold while the Government confirmed its approach to supporting film, following its announcement that it planned to abolish the UK Film Council. The Government set out its plans for the British film industry earlier this week
• From 2009/10 to the end of 2012/13, BBC Films has an average annual budget of £12m – this is an increase of £2m from 2008/09.