Since its creation in 2000, the UK Film Council has invested over $248m (£160m) of Lottery funding into more than 900 films, helping to generate over $1.1bn (£700m) at the box office worldwide.
UKFC funded films during its 10 year history include Bend it like Beckham, Bright Star, In the Loop, The Last King of Scotland, Man on Wire, and the UK’s first all-British 3D production Streetdance 3D.
Upcoming films partially backed by the UK Film Council include Mike Leigh’s Cannes hit Another Year, Stephen Frears’ Tamara Drewe, Rowan Joffe’s Brighton Rock, Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk about Kevin and Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights.
In April 2010 this year the UKFC announced a new three-year plan, which included merging its Premiere, New Cinema and Development Funds to create one $25m (£15m) production fund, following a $41.9m (£25m) budget cut.
As part of the major overhaul of the UKFC it cut its overheads by 20%, axing 22 jobs. The UKFC currently employs 75 people, with operation costs of $4.6m (£3m).
The festival, digital archive, P&A and training funds were also cut, whilst a new innovation fund was established to try and respond to the needs of the industry.
Current UK Film Council funding initiatives include its Digital Screen Network, which has invested in 240 digital screens in cinemas across the UK in a bid to bring the 3D experience to a wider audience.
The UKFC spends approximately $3m (£2m) a year on distributing international releases and $5.4m (£3.5m) in training.
The London Film Festival, the Edinburgh Film Festival and Sheffield Doc/Fest have all been supported financially by the UKFC.
Recent figures released by the UKFC revealed that the UK box office has grown by 62% since the organisation was created. In 2009, UK box office figures reached record levels on $1.5bn (£944m), whilst cinema admissions rose to 174m, the highest figures for 7 years.
In 2009 inward investment reached a record $1.2m (£753m), up 111% on 2008, whilst UK film exports exceeded $2bn (£1.3 bn), 92% higher than in 2001.
More on the UKFC news:
UK government to shut UK Film Council
Opinion: Black day for British film
Hunt says he wants to hear opinions on UKFC plans
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