‘Britishness’ of Films (movies to our readers on the 'other side of the 'pond') will now be tested.
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British films will now have to pass a three-part test to benefit from tax incentives available only to 'home-grown films'.
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The ‘Cultural Test for British Films’ has a points test to provide what the Government believes is a measurable definition of a British film.
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The three categories that make up the test are:
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1. Cultural hubs - is the production and filming based in the UK?
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2. Cultural practitioners - do the cast, crew and/or producers come from the EEA (European Economic Area)?
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3. Cultural content - is the film set in the UK, are the characters British?
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Films which score at least fifty per cent of the total points available will be certified as British.
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The current British film definition is based on spend - at least 70 per cent of a film's production costs currently has to be spent on film production activity carried out in the UK in order to qualify.
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The flexibility of the new system will allow producers to clock up points if they use UK content, facilities and personnel, but is not intended to penalise them if they look to source some of their film making outside of the UK.
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Creative Industries Minister, James Purnell said: "One thing the Cultural Test is not, is an attempt to dictate the content or subject matter of British films. Mrs Henderson Presents or Pride and Prejudice could qualify, but so too could Batman Begins - based in Gotham City, but filmed in the UK, employing Brits and using British facilities."
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Perhaps there should also be a history test - which would if actioned probably ban most Hollywood movies based (supposedly) on British historical events.
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Above, a painting based on a scene from The Dam Busters - a very British (black and white) film classic released in 1955
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