Interview by Laura Barton
Bath-based film director Ken Loach fears calls for filmmakers to focus on mainstream movies could stifle the variety of British cinema.
Mr Loach, who lives in Bath, spoke out after Prime Minister David Cameron signalled he wanted British filmmakers to make more "commercially successful" pictures not bankrolled by Hollywood.
A review of government policy on the film industry is due to be published this week which is set to recommend targeting Lottery funding to independent films with a wider appeal and an export strategy for British film skills.
Mr Loach told BBC Breakfast: "We do not have, as in other countries in Europe, a wide spread of independent cinemas. Now, unless you can really see a wide variety of films you don't have a vibrant film industry and we get a very narrow menu."
"If you went to an art gallery and you just saw ducks flying into the sunset, you would think that it was a rather limited art gallery - you would want a wide variety of ... paintings. We don't get that, and that is the opportunity I fear this review will miss."
Mr Loach’s comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron supported the review by urging the British film industry to concentrate on making more mainstream films.
Mr Cameron said: "Our role, and that of the British Film Institute (BFI), should be to support the sector in becoming even more dynamic and entrepreneurial, helping UK producers to make commercially successful pictures that rival the quality and impact of the best international productions."
The Prime Minister who visited Pinewood Studios last week, is expected to assign more lottery funding to films with mainstream appeal rather than “art house” cinema which generates limited box office sales, making the British film industry, worth £4.2 billion, more lucrative.
Mr Cameron said: “We must incentivise UK producers to chase new markets both here and overseas.”.
Arts minister Ed Vaizey said, upon announcing the review in May 2011, that the British film industry is "still not as profitable as it should be for British filmmakers."
Bath-based film director Ken Loach fears calls for filmmakers to focus on mainstream movies could stifle the variety of British cinema.
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| Ken Loach, director of Kes, Poor Cow, Looking For Eric, My Name Is Joe, Looks And Smiles, Riff |
A review of government policy on the film industry is due to be published this week which is set to recommend targeting Lottery funding to independent films with a wider appeal and an export strategy for British film skills.
Mr Loach told BBC Breakfast: "We do not have, as in other countries in Europe, a wide spread of independent cinemas. Now, unless you can really see a wide variety of films you don't have a vibrant film industry and we get a very narrow menu."
"If you went to an art gallery and you just saw ducks flying into the sunset, you would think that it was a rather limited art gallery - you would want a wide variety of ... paintings. We don't get that, and that is the opportunity I fear this review will miss."
Mr Loach’s comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron supported the review by urging the British film industry to concentrate on making more mainstream films.
Mr Cameron said: "Our role, and that of the British Film Institute (BFI), should be to support the sector in becoming even more dynamic and entrepreneurial, helping UK producers to make commercially successful pictures that rival the quality and impact of the best international productions."
The Prime Minister who visited Pinewood Studios last week, is expected to assign more lottery funding to films with mainstream appeal rather than “art house” cinema which generates limited box office sales, making the British film industry, worth £4.2 billion, more lucrative.
Mr Cameron said: “We must incentivise UK producers to chase new markets both here and overseas.”.
Arts minister Ed Vaizey said, upon announcing the review in May 2011, that the British film industry is "still not as profitable as it should be for British filmmakers."
