§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the films that have been approved since 2000 by(a) the Film Council's New Arena Fund and (b) the Film Council's Premiere Fund; in each case, how much was invested; and how much has so far been recouped. [130954]
§ Estelle MorrisThe Premiere Fund was established to stimulate commercial film-making in association with the private sector and improve the quality and appeal of British films. Details of the films supported and how much has been recouped are shown at Table 1.
The New Cinema Fund was established to support innovative film-making to develop film culture, encourage creative excellence and nurture new talent. Details of the films supported and how much has been recouped are shown at Table 2.
In addition, the New Cinema Fund has invested £1.3 million in over 200 short digital films. This initiative provides a platform for new and emerging talent to explore innovative ways of telling stories and is not designed to provide a financial return on the investment.
The UK Film Council investment in a film is likely to take place well before the film receives a theatrical (or other) release, resulting in a considerable time-lag between the investment and any recoupment. Individual films are expected to generate income over many years 1047W through different "windows" of exploitation around the world (for example, DVD, Pay-TV, Free TV). The recoupment received to date is therefore only a small part of the return on the investment expected by the UK Film Council.
Table 1: Premiere Fund Title Net award Receipts Code 46 1,565,063 0 The Importance of Being Earnest 1,320,000 227,925 Gosford Park 2,000,000 2,000,000 L'Homme du Train 500,000 0 Mike Bassett: England Manager 2,103,000 1,688,965 Miranda 849,315 112,933 Sex Lives of the Potato Men 1,766,222 0 Sylvia 2,450,000 0 Valiant 2,580,645 0 Young Adam 500,000 0 Total 15,634,245 4,029,823
Table 2: New Cinema Fund Title Net award Receipts AKA 101,250 0 Anita and Me 680,000 17,879 Ape 178,000 0 Blind Flight 460,000 10,000 Bloody Sunday 299,500 138,830 Bodysong 350,000 0 This Little Life (Entering Blue Zone) 241,000 0 Hoover Street 175,000 0 Kiss of Life (Helen of Peckham) 510,000 10,000 Intermission 570,000 0 Live Forever 212,249 1,760 The Magdalene Sisters 620,000 64,477 Noi the Albino 100,000 0 One for the Road 240,000 0 One Love 899,827 0 Once Upon A Time in the Midlands 750,000 262,485 Revengers Tragedy 510,000 10,000 Tomorrow La Scala (Sweeney) 247,406 0 This is not a Love Song 289,650 13,047 Touching the Void 335,000 0 Total 7,768,882 528,478 Note
The figures given in the tables relate to films on which the UK Film Council had entered into contracts by 30 June 2003, and therefore do not include all of the awards made to date. Some of the films listed are still in production and have therefore not started to recoup funding.