1. Sian Lynes
BACKGROUND/PRACTICES:
Film4 is a production house and a channel with the respective purpose of producing and
broadcasting alternative films. Currently, Film4 create 6 films per year. They set up a low-budget
studio with the UK Film Council called ‘WarpX’ which is a digital production house. (Across TV and
Film Drama = economies of scale and cross fertilisation)
OWNED BY:
Channel 4 Television Corporation
CONTROLLER:
Tessa Ross (Film and Drama)
BUDGET:
£15million per annum for the next 5 years (2011 onwards)
PHILOSOPHY:
Film4 is committed to enhancing the British film industry by nurturing and funding new talent.
It offers a range of independent as well as mainstream films and encourages audience to broaden
their horizons. Therefore appealing to a mainstream audience as well as a niche market that like
alternative films. And has a reputation for making and showing challenging films.
BIRTH/CHANGE:
Film 4 was originally established as FilmFour when it was launched on Ovember 1st 1998. It was
Channel 4’s second channel at the time, and previously relied on a subscription service but this
service was ended in July 2006. It was re-launched to be Film4 and became a part of a channel on
Freeview service. Its channel availability increased from 300,000 initial subscribers to 18 million
households. A massive advertising campaign was initiated to promote its transferral of going ‘free-
to-air’. The campaign included famous film stars such as Judi Dench and Ewan McGregor in funny
costumes and shouting the channel name. Its remains the only film channel available on digital
terrestrial television. The movie meant longer broadcasting hours (12:45 – 08:45) and included
commercial advertising breaks for the first time. This was changed from May 23 2009 to 11:00 –
04:00.
HISTORY – HIGH AND LOWS:

2. Sian Lynes
In 1999, FilmFour had nine films that were officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2001 FilmFo0ur also invested in a film called Charlotte Gray which contributed to a
£5.7million loss, having been a highly expensive to produce and became a box office flop.
The same year they only released 14 films which only accounted for a small 0.7% in the UK
Box Office market.
Before coming free-to-air, FilmFour as it was called, also launched 2 more channel in April
2001 called ‘FilmFour World’ and ‘FilmFour Extremes’ which became available to their
subscribers. These channels were established after the response of change in TV structure,
such as the increase in digital satellite channels becoming available via. Sky and the launch of
new TV channels such as Channel 5. These channels were only available on ITV Digital but
later replaced by FilmFour Weekly in 2003. The channel however ceased to broadcast in July
2006.
Film4+1 became available on 20th August 2007, operating a later one-hour time shift viewing
available on satellite, cable and Freeview but is now only available on Sky, Virgin and Freesat
services. This was to make way for Channel 4+1. TalkTalk TV offers a non time shifted
channel service called Film4 on Demand.
FilmFour was struggling by being a subscription channel and so became a free-to-air channel
later in July.
In September 2011, FILM4.0 was announced with the appointment of Anna Higgs as media
producer and consultant. It is a part of increased funding and aims to explore the digital
online area FILM4.0 will offer soon. It also aims to find new talent, new ways of producing
and making, and engaging new audiences.
GENRE OF FILMS:
Film4 now focuses on mainstream Hollywood movies
They have frequent themed nights in programming according to seasons, genre, director or
actor.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Won 5 OSCARS in 4 years and 3 BAFTAS in 2007 alone
Reached 8.3million ABC1s a month and with an upmarket (42%) and males (55%) profile. A
is higher managerial, professional, etc. B is intermediate managerial, etc. C1 is supervisory
and junior managerial etc. So ABC1s is all the foregoing.
FINANCES:
In 2002 due to financial worries Film4 announced they would no longer distribute their own
films.
In 2011, Channel 4 announced the budget for Film4 to rise to 50%. This meant £15million
per year for years from 2011. This gave UK films and the domestic industry a boost from the
closure of the UK Film Council.
KEY DIRECTORS:
Danny Boyle

3. Sian Lynes
Martin McDonagh
Steve McQueen
Mike Leigh
Mark Romanek
Chris Morris
Peter Mullan
WELL KNOWN FILMS:
East to East
Last King of Scotland
Four Lions
Never Let me Go
10 KEY THINGS:
Emotional issues
Realistic – lack of spfx/location/mise-en-scene
The obstacles/life of different ages
Real issues
Controversial
British actors
Range of genres – adult/to kids
Stereotype explored – ideology is challenged