“These things take time”: BFI CEO Ben Roberts on next steps following indie film report

Ben Roberts, CEO of the British Film Institute (BFI), has outlined the need to “manage expectations” regarding the timeframe within which the urgent fiscal interventions recommneded by today’s report on the “increasingly fragile” state of the independent film sector could be implemented. 

The report, published today (July 20), is titled ‘An economic review of UK independent film’, and was commissioned by the BFI and conducted by UK analyst Alma Economics. It recommends boosting the UK’s existing film tax relief (FTR) for indie producers and creating a new P&A tax relief for indie distributors. It is also calling for a zero rate of value-added tax (VAT) for independent film exhibitors and increasing streamer contributions to the sector.

Scroll down for the BFI’s response to the economic review of film

Roberts confirmed the recommendations “need a lot of modelling work to be ready to take forward to the DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] and Treasury”.

“DCMS are fully aware of the report, they’ve seen what’s in it, but they’ll want to see the work,” he told Screen. “What we’ve learnt from some of the Covid recovery packages is just how important it is having robust data-led proposals. Just going in on a whim or an anecdote of anything that feels possibly catastrophising is not the way to put in a case for economic intervention. We’ve got to do the work properly.”

Regarding a timeframe for implementation of the recommendations, Roberts is exhibiting caution. “These things take time, particularly anything that is looking at possible fiscal intervention. We may also have to time these to fiscal moments.”

He is also aware of the complications that may arise from the current political instability in the UK, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation, a reshuffled cabinet and the likelihood of a new, currently undecided prime minister when Johnson’s premiership ends on September 6.

“Realistically, this was always likely to be an autumn work package, because we’re producing it moments before [the UK Parliament] summer recess,” Roberts said. “There will be ramifications depending on how the cabinet forms itself, who is prime minister and what their economic policies are. We’ve got a government that has a serious growth agenda, and we are finding ourselves frequently making the case for why the screen sectors are making a significant contribution to the growth of the UK economy.”

Roberts is also keen to continue dialogue with the streamers regarding increased contribution to the UK sector, as opposed to reaching for government mandates. “It should be considered what level of support and investment those businesses [streamers and major studios] are making to the cultural ecosystem, but it [the report] recognises that regulation might not be the way. That’s somewhat beyond our gift.

“Whether or not we have an incoming regulatory government, we want to work with the streamers. The other difference between now and five years ago is these [the streamers] are people now that we know, they are becoming increasingly integrated into the fabric of how we work together.

“The report is not, and we [the BFI] is not endorsing a regulatory message, because these [streamers] are partners in the UK and they are doing a lot of good. I don’t think we’re saying out the gate that we’re proposing something is mandated on everybody.”

He concluded: “I hope everyone will recognise that we’re aiming for significant interventions, and that we’re empathetic to the challenges. As a public body we hear it, we feel part of the sector. We’re a funder but we’re also a distribution label and we’re an exhibitor as well. We’ve got our own streaming platform. We’re not removed from the challenges.

“I hope people will see this as a recognition of these challenges. We’ve moved from a place of anecdotal anxiety to really investing in the evidence and the data, and doing it from a very sober position, because that’s our job. That’s the way to have a conversation with government and industry.

“[Indie film] is not an optional part of the sector. The report is a signal to everyone that we’re focused on it.”

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