New UK film body planned

The government is planning to set up a powerful new film body which could combine the roles of the British Film Institute, the Film Commission and the Arts Council's funding role. It's intended that it will handle the distribution of government and National Lottery funding for the British film industry. The agency would initially receive all government and National Lottery funding for films. The idea for the new British Film Agency was conceived between the Culture Department and the Treasury to reduce the number of quangos supporting the industry. The plans will be spelled out by Culture Secretary Chris Smith tomorrow (Friday) when he sets out how his department will spend the extra