The Film Quota
The President of the Board of Trade has been obliged to cut the quota of British films which exhibitors are obliged to show, for the excellent reason that, at its present level of 45 per cent., the supply of feature films is inadequate. When the quota was fixed at this figure last June it was hoped and expected that British studios would be able to turn out ninety first-feature films in the year, but at the present rate probably few more than sixty will materialise. On this estimate it looks as though Mr. Wilson is being optimistic in cutting the quota only to 4o per cent. instead of to 33} per cent. as the Films Council is believed to have recommended. By itself this decision can do nothing to revive the British film industry, and is no more than a recognition that revival is not just round the corner. There is general recognition that the £5,000,000 loan which the Government has made available for film production is a step in the right direction, but not sufficient by itself to encourage unofficial investors to provide backing for film production. In other words, even with the present degree of Government backing, the prospect of making a profit on feature films is remote. The whole exceedingly complicated question of film finance is now being studied by a Board of Trade working party and by the Portal Committee ; until these have reported the Government has a reason- able excuse for delaying its decision on many aspects of the film industry which are at least as_ pressingly in need of a solution as the working of the quota. It has often been suggested that, in addition to granting direct loans, the Government could assist the industry by returning a part of the entertainment tax on cinema tickets to the producers.. If is possible, but not particularly likely, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer may take that view.
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