The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union. Even though European films are, for the most part, deeply rooted in their own cultures, there is a whole lot of cross-fertilisation going on amongst European countries at the production level, thereby enabling the creation of more cinema. Ahead of the vote on Thursday, a powerful consortium of British producers launched an appeal to the creative industries, making a cogent case to remain. They include Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, producers of a host of British classics, including Four Weddingsand a Funeral , Atonement,Notting Hill and the Bridget Jones series; Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin ( In Bruges, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ); Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson (the James Bond films); Iain Canning ( The King’s Speech ); Christian Colson ( Slumdog Millionaire ); Finola Dwyer ( Brooklyn ); Andrew Eaton (the Michael Winterbottom films); Robin Gutch ( Hunger ); Debra Hayward ( Les Miserables ); Mark Herbert ( This is England ); Elizabeth Karlsen ( Carol ); Andrew Macdonald ( Trainspotting ); Rebecca O’Brien (the Ken Loach films); Alison Owen ( Elizabeth ); Nira Park ( Shaun of the Dead ); Lord Puttnam ( Chariots of Fire ); Allon Reich ( Ex Machina ); Kris Thykier ( Kick-Ass ); Stephen Woolley ( Great Expectations ); and Matthew Vaughn ( Kingsman: The Secret Service ).
Now, that is quite a roster of talent. In their appeal, the producers point out that the U.K. is part of the EU’s MEDIA/Creative Europe Programme, which provides significant funding to the British film, television and games industries each year. Between 2007 and 2015, the industry benefited from almost €130 million provided by this programme. This money has helped support thousands of highly-skilled creative and technical jobs and film and television companies nationwide. They also note that being in the EU, British productions can travel across borders, as they are not subject to quotas and taxes of any kind in Europe. And British talent can ply their trade in Europe without work permits.
“All of this would be at risk if we were to leave. Having a seat at the table in Europe enables us to help ensure that EU policies make a positive contribution to jobs in the film and television sectors and across all the manufacturing and service industries, which support them. For example, having a voice at the negotiating table is helping the U.K. to prevent changes in copyright law, which could have a detrimental effect on the ability to finance films and television programmes. All of these benefits have helped ensure that the U.K. has the fastest growing creative industry sector in Europe. The number of jobs in the U.K.’s Creative Industries increased by 5.5 per cent between 2013 and 2014 to 1.8 million jobs and the sector was worth £84 billion to the U.K. economy in 2014,” the appeal says.
I am with the producers. The wide-ranging vibrancy of British cinema will be threatened by U.K.’s departure. A modern masterpiece like In Bruges , shot on location in the titular Belgian city, may have had to jump through many hoops to get made. If I had my way, the U.K. will remain.
