BLIMEY! New Govt Scraps BFI Film Centre

As Deadline warned, the incoming Conservative government has scrapped the British Film Institute Film Centre, saving £45 million ($68 million). The BFI has put a brave face on it, saying it will push ahead with its £166 million ($271 million) centre even without government support. The culture department – the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – is making £73 million of savings in total. The BFI warns that film is bearing over 50% of the department’s cuts.

Creative industries minister Ed Vaizey has ominously announced a fundamental reassessment of how the UK government supports film. Apparently, lottery funding for film is safe, as well as the tax credit, says the Department for Culture Media and Sport. If so, there’s not a lot to reassess then, is there?

“We are facing an unprecedented financial situation in this country, and it is essential that we act now to reduce the country’s debt,” said culture minister Jeremy Hunt. “The cultural and sporting worlds, like everyone else, urgently need the country’s finances to be returned to a sustainable position.”

They’ll be cancelling Christmas next.