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 | | Friday, 27 August, 1999, 16:49 GMT 17:49 UK Boost for British film industry  Made in Britain: The new rules are designed to boost the UK film industry New rules governing what can be called a British film are now in force. The intention is to provide a boost to the UK movie industry. The changes come a day after it was revealed Notting Hill had become the most successful British movie of all time at the box office. The previous definition of a British film meant productions could be counted as British even if they were largely shot outside the UK. Now a film will count as British only if more than 70% of its budget is spent in the UK and more than 70% of its payroll costs goes to European and Commonwealth talent. The changes will mean mid-budget films will find it easier to qualify for tax breaks. Films costing less than �15m can write off 100% of their production costs in the first year against tax. Encourage investment
Under the old rules, films were not classified as British if they used too much music that was not recorded in the UK . So, the "British" classification was denied to films such as Little Voice - which starred many of Britain's top actors, including Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Jane Horrocks and Ewan McGregor. That would change under the new rules - which can also be altered to allow for Hollywood stars to be drafted in to improve a film's chances of success. A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "The changes bring the system more into line with the realities of modern film-making, and are aimed at helping attract investment in British film." The British film industry employs 33,000 people, and is worth �900m a year. | |
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