Mayor of London reaffirms commitment to film industry

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today welcomed plans for this year's BFI London Film Festival and reaffirmed his commitment to the sector, including support for this year's Centrepiece Gala, an adaptation of The Descendants. Based on the acclaimed novel by Hawaiian writer Kaui Hart Hemmings, it stars George Clooney and is directed by award-winning Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways).

The Mayor said: 'I'm delighted to support the BFI London Film Festival 2011, one of the premier international events hosted in the capital each year. London has a strong reputation as a centre for creativity and innovation in the film industry. In the last six months alone features shot in and around London have generated more than £575m for the capital, and we continue to attract high profile filmmakers and investors.

'There are an astonishing variety of films on offer at this year's festival and I'm particularly pleased to see that the high profile films selected for the opening and closing nights have been shot in the capital with great British talent. I will continue to do all I can to support this vibrant and entrepreneurial sector, which plays a vital role in London's prosperity.'

As well as the Centrepiece Gala, the Mayor is providing funding for the Festival Industry Office, which gives delegates from the UK and overseas access to a range of services, including panel discussions and speed meetings, career guidance sessions and training initiatives, as well as networking opportunities and other events related to skills and talent development and the business of film sales.

In 2010, UK film production spend hit a record level of £1.1 billion – around 75 per cent of it concentrated in London and the South East – and additional revenue is generated as a result of associated spending and tourism associated with films made in the capital. The Mayor continues to work closely with Film London to ensure that the capital remains attractive to filmmakers at home and internationally and that shooting in the city is as straightforward as possible. This includes the Production Finance Market on 19-20 October, which takes place as part of the BFI London Film and connects international producers and financiers.

Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: 'With everything from blockbusters to micro budget films choosing to shoot in the capital, London is a hot bed of activity in terms of film production. In just the first six months of this year feature films shooting in London generated approximately £575m for the city – which is a fantastic achievement. I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and the capital’s film industry to ensure we can maintain these figures and build on them, especially as we look forward to a very busy year for London in 2012.

'As ever, I am very much looking forward to the LFF and I am especially delighted that two hotly anticipated London-shot films are opening and closing the London Film Festival this year; an excellent example of the capital’s popularity with high profile and world class film-makers. With a strong, entertaining and challenging programme of films and events, I trust the LFF will be celebrating another record breaking year as the Festival comes to an end.'

The 55th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express runs from 12-27 October. The Centrepiece Gala presented by the Mayor of London takes place on 20 October. For more information go to www.bfi.org.uk/lff.

Notes to Editors

1. The film industry makes a significant contribution to London and the UK economy. In 2010, UK film production spend hit a record level of £1.1bn. Approximately 75 per cent of this production was concentrated in London and the South East - £866m in the capital alone. Last year, London's local authorities recorded 13,494 filming days including film, TV and commercials.

2. The British Film Institute (BFI) has been a recipient of funding from the Mayor of London since 2005 with funding distributed until this year via Film London. It is the lead body for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive. The BFI London Film Festival champions creativity, originality, vision and imagination by annually showcasing the best of contemporary world cinema, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental film. The BFI London Film Festival is a highly regarded and anticipated event in Europe's cultural calendar, attracting leading international filmmakers, industry professionals and the media together with large public audiences to London for a two week showcase of the best in contemporary world cinema. www.bfi.org.uk.

3. Film London is the capital's film and media agency and aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the city's businesses and its people. The agency works with all the screen industries to sustain, promote and develop London as a major international production and film cultural capital, and it supports the development of the city's new and emerging filmmaking talent. Film London is funded by the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI, and receives significant support from Arts Council England and Skillset. www.filmlondon.org.uk

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