22 November 2006
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced a revised Cultural Test for British Film. This follows the state aid approval by the European Commission on 22 November 2006. All Schedule 1 films claiming the new film tax relief will be required to pass this test.
The Department will now lay a draft Order before Parliament to implement the approved cultural test by modifying the definition of a British film in Schedule 1 to the Films Act 1985. The Order will come into force once it is approved by the House of Commons and House of Lords, which, parliament allowing will be 1 January 2007.
The effect of the changes from the previously published cultural test - an outline of which is below - are as follows: the Cultural Content section has been increased from 4 to 16 points; the Cultural Hubs section has been reduced from 15 to 3 points; and the Cultural Practitioners section has been reduced from 13 to 8 points.
In addition a new section has been added, Cultural Contribution, to which 4 points have been allocated. The total number of points available is reduced to 31 but the required pass mark of 16 remains unchanged, subject to a ‘golden points’ rule as follows:
A film scoring all 15 of the points available in sections C, D and A4, and less than two points in section A1 and less than two points in section A2, must additionally obtain the points in section A3 to pass the cultural test. If a film scores two points in section A1 or two points in section A2, it will not require the additional points from section A3 in order to pass the test.
Guidelines
Cultural Test Guidelines PDF (104 kb)
Detailed guidance on section B of the test will be finalised shortly. In the meantime, any queries you may have about the test can be sent to Department for Culture, Media and Sport via the following email address: culturaltest@culture.gsi.gov.uk
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Revised Cultural Test |
Revised points |
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A |
Cultural Content |
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A1 |
Film set in the UK |
4 |
|
A2 |
Lead characters British citizens or residents |
4 |
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A3 |
Film based on British subject matter or underlying material |
4 |
|
A4 |
Original dialogue recorded mainly in English language |
4 |
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Total Section A |
16 |
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B |
Cultural Contribution |
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Film represents/reflects a diverse British culture, British heritage or British creativity |
4 |
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Total Section B |
4 |
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C |
Cultural Hubs |
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C1 |
Studio and/or location shooting/ Visual Effects/ Special Effects |
2 |
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C2 |
Music Recording/Audio Post Production/Picture Post Production |
1 |
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Total Section C |
3 |
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D |
Cultural Practitioners |
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D1 |
Director |
1 |
|
D2 |
Scriptwriter |
1 |
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D3 |
Producer |
1 |
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D4 |
Composer |
1 |
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D5 |
Lead Actors |
1 |
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D6 |
Majority of Cast |
1 |
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D7 |
Key Staff (lead cinematographer, lead production designer, lead costume designer, lead editor, lead sound designer, lead visual effects supervisor, lead hair and makeup supervisor) |
1 |
|
D8 |
Majority of Crew |
1 |
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Total Section D |
8 |
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TOTAL ALL SECTIONS (pass mark 16) |
31 |
Update: 24 November 06
