BRITISH FILMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1926, Page 2

BRITISH FILMS

POOR OVERSEAS’ SUPPORT -•» LONDON, Nov. 10. The exhibition of British films within the Empire is being considered by the Economic Committee of the Imperial Conference. The British film industry is placing before the committee a complete review of the facts, which at present tell against the wider showing of the British picture. The Federation of British Industries has presented to the Imperial Conference a memorandum pointing out : instances of the poof results which British film-makers have received from the Dominions. For example, the receipts from th a whole of the Dominions for the Zeebrugge and Ypres films were £3,100, whereas the Dominion renters,' it is claimed, received £120,000. The film of the Prince of Wales’ tour in the Repulse in 1925 was not sold to any Dominion. Although Australia and New Zealand are home bases of Antarctic exploration, they both rejected Pointing’s film, “The Great White Silence,” showing Scott’s last expedition. The federation urges the formation ! of a £200,000 company, assisted by Doininion capital, to distribute British films in the. Dominions, sharing the profits between' the film maker and . the company; but it is pointed put | that it would be difficult to obtain capital unless there was protective legislation both in the Dominions and in Great Britain. Meanwhile the federation is considering sending but its own agents to exploit the market with the producof twelve film producers on a - co-bperative basis. The federation is also prepared to co-operate with any similar effective organisation cstab- ; lislied in tiie Dominions.