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London Film Week

Increased cooperation in financing and making films involving film-makers from London and China was sought by a Film London delegation that visited Beijing and Shanghai from December 1–8, 2007.

Adrian Wootan, chief executive of Film London, said the delegation’s mission was to “build on existing relationships with the Chinese film industry and forge further cultural links with, and between, Beijing and Shanghai.”

In the delegation were Oscar-nominated film director Stephen Frears and other leading United Kingdom “film ambassadors,” including Andrew Macdonald and Lynda Myles.

Film London is the UK capital's film and media agency; it is funded by the UK Film Council and the London Development Agency, with a mission of sustaining, promoting and developing London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital.

Film London was formed in 2003 under the aegis of the UK Film Council and the London Development Agency, the Mayor of London's development arm. Film London also benefits from significant funding from the European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England London.

Wootan said Film London wants to make it easier for Chinese film-makers to use London as a place for film-making and has high hopes of concluding agreements in China that will make it easier for London-based film-makers to work in China. Public and private financing could be used in either case.

The delegation’s trip to Beijing, according to Wootan, “Is very much the first step of something.” He said negotiations for a treaty governing co-production of films in the UK and China are continuing. “We hope we can find a shortcut between the legal and practical restrictions of the two countries.”

For film fans, the highlight of London Week in Beijing was the screening of well known British films at theatres in Beijing.

The first was The Queen (2006), which dealt with the aftermath of the death in an automobile crash in Paris of Princess Diana. Both before and after the showing, Frears met with the press and public to discuss the filming of The Queen and the British royal family’s response to it.

When asked if he’d like to make a film in China, Frears responded jokingly: “I’d like to make Lust, Caution II [in response to director Ang Lee's 2007 hit Lust, Caution].  It was such a wonderful film: the concealed passion was so interesting.”