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Local Film Culture, Global Exchange
4/11/05: The Independent Film Parliament presents 'Local Film Culture, Global Exchange' on Wednesday 30th November 2005 at Institut Français, London. A one-day event on policy for a thriving, diverse film culture.
A government review of film policy is currently underway in the UK. Globally, UNESCO has launched a unique initiative to sustain diversity in the marketplace. This day offers the chance to debate what policy can deliver, and to offer independent feedback to the government review.
National and international speakers, active in filmmaking and policy, will lead the debate. Panellists will include Québécois actor, Pierre Curzi; cultural analyst Baroness Lola Young; author of “Blockbusters and Trade Wars”, Peter S. Grant; the director of the National Film and Television School and Acting Chairman of The European Film Academy Nik Powell; Head of bfi Education, Cary Bazalgette and Director of Dochouse, Elizabeth Wood.
What policies do we need to keep our film culture diverse and thriving?……Should festivals be the best chance to see the range of international cinema?…..Is there enough support for productions below the tax-break line?…..What role for broadcasters in a pay-to-view era?…..
Will international policy keep faith with tomorrow’s viewers? What can the moving image offer as an architect of ideas and understanding in our diverse society?
REGISTRATION: please email or contact the IFP office on (44) 207 690 0124. On-line registration available mid-October.
Ticket prices: £40 (Individuals), £75 (institutions), Concessions available.
IFP MAILING LIST: to add your name email: development@filmparliament.org.uk
Supporting organisations: BAFTA; PACT; PAL, Performing Arts Lab; CRA, Creators Rights Alliance; AIM, Association of Independent Music; Directors Guild of Great Britain
The Programme
9 - 9.30 Registration/Refreshment
9.45 Welcome and Introduction, Nik Powell
Opening Addresses
10-10.30 Wanted! British Film Culture, Diverse and Alive, Mike Figgis (tbc)
10.30-11.15 Sustaining Local culture in a Global Marketplace, Pierre Curzi
11.15 - 11.45 Break
11.45 - 1.30 SESSION 1: A Global Policy for Cultural Diversity
Government strategy for a diverse, audiovisual culture. James Purnell MP (tbc)
How will the UNESCO Convention work? Peter Grant
What role for regulation in the audiovisual arena? Ruth Hieronymi MEP
Global exchange through national culture. Baroness Lola Young
Moderator: Nik Powell
1.30 - 2.30 Lunch Break
2.30 - 4.00 SESSION 2: Policy in Action -UK
Sustaining a diverse film culture. John Woodward (tbc)
Bringing worlds on screen: digital and exhibition strategy. Linda Pariser
Surviving as a low budget producer. Gillian Berrie (tbc)
Building film culture in the regions. Jay Arnold
Moderator: Francine Stock
4.00 - 4.30 Tea
4.30 - 5.45 SESSION 3: Policy with LongtermVision
Moving with the times: images and global exchange. Chris Auty (tbc)
Past in future tense: documentary in focus. Elizabeth Wood
Evolving, digital perspectives. Liz Rosenthal
Keeping faith with the audience: the role of education. Cary Bazalgette
Moderator: Holly Aylett (tbc)
Summing Up, Carole Tongue
7.30 Screening: Maelstrom, dir by Denis Villeneuve
NOTES:
1. The Independent Film Parliament
'This Parliament is an excellent initiative. We need more debate to achieve a sustainable, independently-minded cinema; to focus support for home-grown production, and to promote maximum collaboration with European partners and initiatives.'
Nik Powell, Deputy Chairman of the European Academy and Director of the National Film and Television School
'The IFP is a consultative forum for our most innovative, independently-minded film practitioners to feed back on policy affecting film. It launched at the Cambridge Film Festival in 2003 and focuses especially on the needs of the so-called specialist/cultural film sector. This sector includes experimental film, artists film and video, animation, documentary, cross-over feature, and films whose budgets generally fall below the taxbreak line.'
Patrons: Baroness Lola Young; Tilda Swinton; Sally Potter; Michael Nyman; Alex Cox
Principal Aims:
to be a consultation partner in audiovisual matters covering film & broadcasting alongside other organisations such as The UK Film Council, The British Screen Advisory Council, The Creators’ Rights Alliance, PACT, The Director’s Guild of Great Britain, BECTU …..
to serve the specialist/cultural film sector, addressing a wide range of film forms including artists’ film and video, documentary, student production, animation and feature film
to feedback from different areas of the specialist/cultural sector including education & training, development & production, exhibition & distribution
to include regional, cultural, and ethnic issues of diversity
to archive documentation & keep debate open on future policy options with regard to UK, Europe & beyond
Organisation
The IFP is a charity led by its steering committee of industry professionals & 4 trustees:
Holly Aylett: Holly Aylett - Managing Editor, Vertigo Magazine, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at London Metropolitan University
Ian Christie: Ian Christie - Vice President, Europa Cinemas; Professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, film historian
David Kelly: Producer and director of The European Co-Production Bureau
Dr Carole Tongue: Former MEP, President of Cities and Cinemas European Network, visiting Professor at London Institute and consultant on European audio-visual policy
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. The UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity
This convention aims to provide a framework for nation states to develop independent cultural policies
to establish cultural works as distinct from ordinary merchandise as vectors of meaning and national identity
to claim equal status for the convention in relation to trade agreements including those under discussion by the WTO
Background:
Oct 16th 2003: Project adopted by conference of UNESCO: “the desirability of drawing up an international standard-setting instrument on cultural diversity”
June 2005: Draft for convention passed by 2/3 majority. United States and Japan are largest countries voting against.
Aug 11th 2005:Preliminary Draft for Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions passed by Executive. Proposed that should be presented to 33rd session of General Conference in Paris, October 2005. 52 out of 53 states in favour. United States votes against. Australia abstains. Ukraine, Pakistan and Cap Verde absent.
October 15-18 2005: Scheduled days for draft Convention to be adopted at 33rd general assembly of UNESCO
3. Film Policy Review
Called for by Minister for the Creative Industries, James Purnell, in speech to Institute of Public Policy Research, London 16.06.2005
Calling for review of film policy addressing four key issues - “How do we attract big budget films to the UK? How do we support UK production? How do we improve distribution? Should we do more for cultural film?”
4. Statistics of concern to those interested in pluralism for UK film culture
Only 6% of screens are dedicated to non-mainstream programming
Under 5% of screens are in rural locations
Foreign language films represent 4.6% of UK box office (gross)
97.3% of films in distribution and exhibition (UK & Ireland) are North American or North American co-productions, apart from the few UK and Irish productions
UK feature production fell from 44 to 27
Almost 70% of film sales to the industry come from London
In 2004, UK’s most popular films at the European box office were Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, Troy, and Bridget Jones’s Diary
Source: UK Film Council Statistical Yearbook / Annual Review 2004-2005
Last modified: Friday, November 4, 2005
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
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MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
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