Press Release
DIRECTORS UK HOSTS INDUSTRY PANEL AT CANNES TO DISCUSS 50:50 PUBLIC FUNDING FOR UK FILMS
12 May 2016
On Saturday 14 May, Directors UK, the professional association for British screen directors, will host Directing the Future of Film, a panel discussion at the NEXT pavilion, the innovators’ hub at the Marché de Film at Cannes International Film Festival.
After the launch of their commissioned study Cut Out Of The Picture - A Study Into Gender Inequality Amongst Directors in the UK Film Industry, by Stephen Follows, which revealed new insight into the true scale of gender disparity facing women film directors, the panel will discuss what decisive action should be taken to create a film industry where gender does not determine success.
With the research showing that despite 50% of film students and 49% of new entrants into the film industry in the UK being women, only 3.3% of women directors go on to make high-budget films (over £30million), the discussion will explore what affirmative action is needed to improve the number of women making films in the future.
The panel will include Amanda Nevill (CEO, BFI) and Ben Roberts (Director of Film Fund, BFI), Celine Haddad (Senior Film Executive, Talent Development at Creative England), Anna Serner (CEO of the Swedish Film Institute), Francine Raveney (Head of PR at the European Women’s Audiovisual Network), and chaired by director Beryl Richards (Chair at Directors UK).
Directing the Future of Film panel discussion will take place at the NEXT pavilion, at 4-6pm. This event is invitation only.
After the launch of their commissioned study Cut Out Of The Picture - A Study Into Gender Inequality Amongst Directors in the UK Film Industry, by Stephen Follows, which revealed new insight into the true scale of gender disparity facing women film directors, the panel will discuss what decisive action should be taken to create a film industry where gender does not determine success.
With the research showing that despite 50% of film students and 49% of new entrants into the film industry in the UK being women, only 3.3% of women directors go on to make high-budget films (over £30million), the discussion will explore what affirmative action is needed to improve the number of women making films in the future.
The panel will include Amanda Nevill (CEO, BFI) and Ben Roberts (Director of Film Fund, BFI), Celine Haddad (Senior Film Executive, Talent Development at Creative England), Anna Serner (CEO of the Swedish Film Institute), Francine Raveney (Head of PR at the European Women’s Audiovisual Network), and chaired by director Beryl Richards (Chair at Directors UK).
Directing the Future of Film panel discussion will take place at the NEXT pavilion, at 4-6pm. This event is invitation only.
- Journalists wishing to attend the panel event should contact Tolu Akisanya, details below.
- DIRECTORS UK is the single voice of British screen directors representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 6,000 members – the overwhelming majority of working film and television directors in the UK. Directors UK campaigns for the rights, working conditions and status of directors in the industry and works closely with fellow organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns. It also promotes excellence in the craft of direction both nationally and internationally, and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
- A PDF copy of the full report Cut out of the Picture – A study of Gender Inequality Amongst Directors within the UK Film Industry and further information can be found at www.directors.uk.com.
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