The British Council is to seek National Lottery funding to expand UK umbrella
initiatives at the Berlin and Cannes festivals to Venice, Toronto and Sundance.
British Council head of films, TV
and video Paul Howson estimated a combined total cost of US$400,000
for the proposed ventures. Each
initiative will comprise a combination
of UK film associations organised along the lines of either the British Council-
led Berlin venture or the British Film Commission-led Cannes operation.
Howson maintained an alternative source of state funding was vital to realise the proposal if stipulations limiting funds to UK-based projects thwarted the lottery bid. He aimed for the Department of Trade and Industry-organised North America Now initiative to come on board for Sundance and Toronto but said the Department of National Heritage's position was ''unclear'' until after national elections in May.
''The Labour party is being cagey,'' he said. ''We know there will be no new money, though there may be a degree of redistribution. It could be we are not eligible because these initiatives are overseas but they have a direct benefit to an important British industry and create British jobs.
'' Adam Minns
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