Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has set out his plans to make film a key part of Londoners' experience of arts and culture in the capital.

The publication of Cultural Metropolis yesterday highlights cultural initiatives to be taken and focuses on film amongst the creative industries.

Planned initiatives include:

- the London Film Day - a one day celebration dedicated to film, offering screenings and events throughout the city;

- an additional $150,000 for the London Borough Film Fund Challenge - a scheme that gives young people training to make their first short film to help them gain a foothold in the industry;

- new legislation that will make it easier to shoot films in London through more effective management of road closures.

The report also highlights film production as a leading creative industry in the capital and one the Mayor will continue to support.

The publication of the report coincided with the first meeting of the London Cultural Strategy Group.

The group is made up of key people from across the cultural field who will advise the Mayor on taking forward and developing further his plans cultural strategy.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, who is a member of the London Cultural Strategy Group, said that Johnson has made a special distinction for film. 'He hasn't done that with any other creative industry. It's great that from day one film has been explicitly singled out in the strategy.'

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