Representing you behind the scenes

Throughout autumn, we’ve been busy representing you in conversations with top-level decision makers in our industry, and in Westminster.  

On Tuesday, members of the Directors UK team and Board attended the House of Lords for the award ceremony of Film the House 2024 – a competition designed to promote filmmaking talent,  and celebrate the importance of copyright and intellectual property for creators. The event was attended by lawmakers from across Parliament – read our report.

This follows Labour Conference in September, where our CEO Andy Harrower and Director of Communications and Public Affairs Victoria Morris were able to speak directly with Government figures, and Andy made the case for a freelance commissioner, the implementation of the Smart Fund, and the importance of royalties while speaking on the 'New Deal for Working People’ panel. We also attended a Creative UK briefing event with Portland Communications in October, gaining insight on the plans and priorities of the new Government.   

Andy joined the British Copyright Council joint committee meeting with the IPO (Intellectual Property Office), where points of discussion included AI’s impact on the creative sector and the issue of copyright. We’ve also provided the director’s perspective in meetings with CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), FERA (Federation of European Screen Directors) and the Smart Fund Campaign. Find out more about the Smart Fund here.

As well as reaching out to change-makers in person, we’ve also been making sure that the concerns of directors are properly accounted for in official consultations and calls for evidence including on the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee inquiry into skills policy, which focused in particular on apprenticeships and training.  

These behind the scenes efforts are all geared towards making connections with those who have the power to shape policy in a way that supports directors and the craft of directing.