Press Release
FILM THE HOUSE 2020 IS OPEN TO ENTRIES AS DIRECTORS UK SPONSOR BEST FILM DIRECTION AWARD FOR SECOND YEAR
16 June 2020
Film the House 2020, Parliament’s annual cross-party film competition, is now officially open to entries.
Film the House is an annual Parliamentary-based competition sponsored by Tracy Brabin MP, Lord Clement Jones, and Giles Watling MP which aims to find the filmmakers and scriptwriters of tomorrow.
Now in its eighth year, the competition was created to showcase the best new UK talent in filmmaking. The competition also provides a fun and innovative way to highlight the importance of – and urgent need to protect – intellectual property (IP) rights in an increasingly digital age.
Now in its eighth year, the competition was created to showcase the best new UK talent in filmmaking. The competition also provides a fun and innovative way to highlight the importance of – and urgent need to protect – intellectual property (IP) rights in an increasingly digital age.
Each year, the best upcoming creators from around the country submit entries for a range of awards. Directors UK are delighted to once again sponsor the award for Best Film Direction.
Entries are shared with MPs, and an expert industry panel of leading figures from across Britain’s creative landscape chooses the shortlist and finalists. The winners will be announced in early 2021. Prizes for the winners of Best Film Direction include a mentoring meeting, an invitation to an exclusive Directors UK event, and classification of the winning films by BBFC as well as a cash prize.
Entries are shared with MPs, and an expert industry panel of leading figures from across Britain’s creative landscape chooses the shortlist and finalists. The winners will be announced in early 2021. Prizes for the winners of Best Film Direction include a mentoring meeting, an invitation to an exclusive Directors UK event, and classification of the winning films by BBFC as well as a cash prize.
Entries must be submitted by 16 November 2020, and while it has been a very difficult year in terms of filmmaking, we want to reiterate that there is no time frame in which films have to have been made in order for them to be eligible for the competition.
The competition enjoys widespread support from industry and is sponsored by the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), Directors UK, The Motion Picture Association, Netflix, Viacom, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Helen Lederer, writer, comedian and 2019 Film the House judge, said:
“It was a pleasure to be part of a competition that helps celebrate up-and-coming British film talent. Creative competitions like Film the House are an integral way for new creators to get involved in the industry while at the same time highlighting the importance of IP to MPs and creatives alike.”
Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group and parliamentary sponsor of Film the House, said:
“Intellectual property is a vital way of making sure that creators are properly rewarded for the artistic works they produce. This is as true for film and other visual media as it is for books, fashion or music. Film the House is designed to highlight the importance we place in Parliament on IP and on good IP protection and enforcement. We hope that for their part creators will respond by taking part in Film the House and demonstrate the huge audiovisual and writing talent that we have in this country.”
About Directors UK
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,500 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About Film the House
Film the House was set up by former MP and IP adviser to the David Cameron, Mike Weatherley. The competition was set up to:
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,500 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About Film the House
Film the House was set up by former MP and IP adviser to the David Cameron, Mike Weatherley. The competition was set up to:
“Educate parliamentarians about the importance of the creative industries to the British economy and how, without protecting intellectual property, we are putting important industries and revenue streams in jeopardy.”
Film the House was launched as a fun way to educate parliamentarians and young people about the importance of the creative industries to the UK economy and the many ways in which we can nurture and protect our creative industries. It is now one of Parliament’s largest competitions and is just one of a number of initiatives that is aimed at significantly raising awareness of the need to protect creativity and copyright by bringing together young filmmakers and parliamentarians.
Film the House is intended to showcase the ‘best’ filmmakers and scriptwriters from across the UK – with particular emphasis on young participants and people who have not yet been noticed and realised their potential. It is also a way for participants to meet their local MP and to learn a little more about how ‘Parliament in Westminster’ works.
Film the House is being run by its industry sponsors which includes ALCS, Directors UK, The Motion Picture Association, Netflix, Viacom, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
The Parliamentary sponsors for the competition are Tracy Brabin MP (Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries), Lord Tim Clement-Jones (Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group) and Giles Watling MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group).
The following organisations are also supporting the competition: Alliance for IP, Association of Authors’ Agents, British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), British Film Institute (BFI), British Copyright Council (BCC), British Screen Forum, Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA), Creative Industries Federation, Educational Recording Agency (ERA), Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Society of Authors, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.
Further Information
Please email [email protected] or phone Barbara or Alison at ALCS on 020 7264 5700 for further information about the competition.
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