25 March 2010

The Hollywood Reporter on BFI/UKFC merger

Film Council, BFI merger to save $15 million

Costs, overlaps to be cut in back office and administration

By Stuart Kemp

March 24, 2010, 12:45 PM ET


LONDON -- The ongoing merger between the U.K. Film Council with film heritage organization the British Film Institute is expected to help secure savings of £10 million ($14.9 million) by year 2012/13, according the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.


The cost-cutting plans, which has the support of U.K. Film Council chairman Tim Bevan and the BFI aims to maintain the remits of both bodies but will cut costs and overlaps in such areas as back office and administration.


The move comes as the cash-strapped U.K. government is running a fine-toothed comb through spending on its public bodies in a bid to cut mounting costs in the face of heavy government debt. It will also see the National Lottery Commission merged with the Gambling Commmission.


Film Council, BFI merger to save $15 million