The Films (Definition of "British Film”) Order 2006

Modification of the Schedule

4.  For paragraph 4(1) (British films for purposes of the Schedule) substitute—

“4.— (1) A film is a British film for the purposes of this Schedule if the requirements specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) are met.

(2) The first requirement is that throughout the period during which the film is being made the maker of the film is—

(a) a person ordinarily resident in a member State, or

(b) a company which is registered in a member State and of which the central management and control of business is exercised in a member State.

(3) The second requirement is that the film passes the relevant cultural test (see paragraph 4A, 4B or 4C).

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraphs 4A to 4D a state shall be treated as if it were a member State if—

(a) it is a party to an agreement under Article 310 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and

(b) the agreement requires a maker of a film who is ordinarily resident or registered in that state to be treated for the purposes of this Schedule in the same way as a maker of a film who is ordinarily resident or registered in a member State.

(5) Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for films to be treated as British films for the purposes of this Schedule if they are made in accordance with the terms of any agreement between Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and any other government, international organisation or authority.

(6) This paragraph has effect subject to paragraph 5 (excluded films).

4A.— (1) The cultural test for a film other than a documentary (see paragraph 4B) or an animation (see paragraph 4C) is as follows.

(2) A film passes the cultural test if it is awarded at least 16 points in total.

(3) Up to 4 points shall be awarded in respect of the content of the film as follows—

(a) 1 point if at least 50% of the film is set in the United Kingdom;

(b) 1 point if at least one of the three principal characters depicted in the film (or, if there are three or fewer characters depicted in the film, any of them) is a British character;

(c) 1 point if the film depicts a British story;

(d) 1 point if at least 50% of the original dialogue is recorded in the English language or in a recognised regional or minority language.

(4) Up to 15 points shall be awarded in respect of work carried out in the making of the film as follows—

(a) up to 6 points depending on the percentage of principal photography that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 6 points for 75%,

(ii) 5 points for 62.5%,

(iii) 4 points for 50%,

(iv) 3 points for 37.5%,

(v) 2 points for 25%,

(vi) 1 point for 10%;

(b) up to 4 points depending on the percentage of the work on visual effects that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 4 points for 75%,

(ii) 3 points for 50%,

(iii) 2 points for 25%,

(iv) 1 point for 10%;

(c) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on special effects is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(d) up to 2 points depending on the percentage of the work on performing and recording the original music score created for the film that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 2 points for 75%,

(ii) 1 point for 50%;

(e) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on audio post production is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(f) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on image processing is carried out in the United Kingdom.

(5) Up to 13 points shall be awarded in respect of the personnel involved in the making of the film as follows—

(a) 2 points if the director (or, if there is more than one, the lead director) is a qualifying person;

(b) up to 2 points depending on the number of the scriptwriters who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there is only one scriptwriter, 2 points if he is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only two scriptwriters, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there are more than three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of the three lead scriptwriters are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead scriptwriters is a qualifying person;

(c) 1 point if at least one of the producers (or, if there are more than three, of the three lead producers) is a qualifying person;

(d) 1 point if the composer (or, if there is more than one, the lead composer) is a qualifying person;

(e) up to 2 points depending on the number of the actors who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there are more than three actors, 2 points if two or more of the three lead actors are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead actors is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only three actors, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only two actors, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there is only one actor, 2 points if he is a qualifying person;

(f) 1 point if at least 50% of the cast are qualifying persons;

(g) up to 3 points depending on the number of the heads of department who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) 3 points for five or more,

(ii) 2 points for three or four,

(iii) 1 point for one or two;

(h) 1 point if at least 50% of the production crew are qualifying persons.

4B.— (1) The cultural test for a documentary is as follows.

(2) A film passes the cultural test if it is awarded at least 16 points in total.

(3) Up to 4 points shall be awarded in respect of the content of the film as follows—

(a) 1 point if at least 50% of the film is set in the United Kingdom;

(b) 1 point if at least one of the three principal characters depicted in the film (or, if there are three or fewer characters depicted in the film, any of them) is a British character;

(c) 1 point if the film depicts a British story;

(d) 1 point if at least 50% of the original dialogue is recorded in the English language or in a recognised regional or minority language.

(4) Up to 15 points shall be awarded in respect of work carried out in the making of the film as follows—

(a) up to 6 points depending on the percentage of the work on shooting and visual effects that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 6 points for 75%,

(ii) 5 points for 62.5%,

(iii) 4 points for 50%,

(iv) 3 points for 37.5%,

(v) 2 points for 25%,

(vi) 1 point for 10%;

(b) up to 4 points depending on the percentage of the work on research and development that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 4 points for 75%,

(ii) 3 points for 50%,

(iii) 2 points for 25%,

(iv) 1 point for 10%;

(c) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on special effects is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(d) up to 2 points depending on the percentage of the work on performing and recording the original music score created for the film that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 2 points for 75%,

(ii) 1 point for 50%;

(e) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on audio post production is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(f) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on image processing is carried out in the United Kingdom.

(5) Up to 13 points shall be awarded in respect of the personnel involved in the making of the film as follows—

(a) 2 points if the director (or, if there is more than one, the lead director) is a qualifying person;

(b) up to 2 points depending on the number of the scriptwriters who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there is only one scriptwriter, 2 points if he is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only two scriptwriters, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there are more than three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of the three lead scriptwriters are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead scriptwriters is a qualifying person;

(c) 1 point if at least one of the producers (or, if there are more than three, of the three lead producers) is a qualifying person;

(d) 1 point if the composer (or, if there is more than one, the lead composer) is a qualifying person;

(e) up to 2 points depending on the number of the participants who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there are more than three participants, 2 points if two or more of the three lead participants are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead participants is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only three participants, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only two participants, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there is only one participant, 2 points if he is a qualifying person;

(f) 1 point if at least 50% of all of the participants are qualifying persons;

(g) up to 3 points depending on the number of the heads of department who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) 3 points for four,

(ii) 2 points for three,

(iii) 1 point for one or two;

(h) 1 point if at least 50% of the production crew are qualifying persons.

4C.— (1) The cultural test for an animation is as follows.

(2) A film passes the cultural test if it is awarded at least 16 points in total.

(3) Up to 4 points shall be awarded in respect of the content of the film as follows—

(a) 1 point if at least 50% of the film is set in the United Kingdom;

(b) 1 point if at least one of the three principal characters depicted in the film (or, if there are three or fewer characters depicted in the film, any of them) is a British character;

(c) 1 point if the film depicts a British story;

(d) 1 point if at least 50% of the original dialogue is recorded in the English language or in a recognised regional or minority language.

(4) Up to 15 points shall be awarded in respect of work carried out in the making of the film as follows—

(a) up to 6 points depending on the percentage of the work on shooting, visual design, layout and storyboarding that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 6 points for 75%,

(ii) 5 points for 62.5%,

(iii) 4 points for 50%,

(iv) 3 points for 37.5%,

(v) 2 points for 25%,

(vi) 1 point for 10%;

(b) up to 4 points depending on the percentage of the work on visual effects that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 4 points for 75%,

(ii) 3 points for 50%,

(iii) 2 points for 25%,

(iv) 1 point for 10%;

(c) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on special effects is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(d) up to 2 points depending on the percentage of the work on performing and recording the original music score created for the film that is carried out in the United Kingdom as follows—

(i) 2 points for 75%,

(ii) 1 point for 50%;

(e) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on voice recording and audio post production is carried out in the United Kingdom;

(f) 1 point if at least 75% of the work on image processing is carried out in the United Kingdom.

(5) Up to 13 points shall be awarded in respect of the personnel involved in the making of the film as follows—

(a) 2 points if the director (or, if there is more than one, the lead director) is a qualifying person;

(b) up to 2 points depending on the number of the scriptwriters who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there is only one scriptwriter, 2 points if he is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only two scriptwriters, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there are more than three scriptwriters, 2 points if two or more of the three lead scriptwriters are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead scriptwriters is a qualifying person;

(c) 1 point if at least one of the producers (or, if there are more than three, of the three lead producers) is a qualifying person;

(d) 1 point if the composer (or, if there is more than one, the lead composer) is a qualifying person;

(e) up to 2 points depending on the number of the actors who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) if there are more than three actors, 2 points if two or more of the three lead actors are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of the three lead actors is a qualifying person,

(ii) if there are only three actors, 2 points if two or more of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iii) if there are only two actors, 2 points if both of them are qualifying persons, 1 point if one of them is,

(iv) if there is only one actor, 2 points if he is a qualifying person;

(f) 1 point if at least 50% of the cast are qualifying persons;

(g) up to 3 points depending on the number of the heads of department who are qualifying persons as follows—

(i) 3 points for five or more,

(ii) 2 points for three or four,

(iii) 1 point for one or two;

(h) 1 point if at least 50% of the production crew are qualifying persons.

4D.— (1) In paragraphs 4A to 4C—

“cast” means all the actors and performers but not the extras who appear in a film;

“heads of department” has the meaning given by sub-paragraph (2);

“participant” means a presenter, narrator, subject or other person who participates and appears in a documentary;

“production crew” means all the persons directly involved in the production of a film who do not appear in the film;

“qualifying person” means a citizen of, or a person ordinarily resident in, a member State;

“recognised regional or minority language” means Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots or Cornish;

“special effects” means artificial techniques or processes, which are not visual effects, used to create an illusion in a film;

“visual effects” means digital alterations to a film’s images.

(2) “Heads of department” means—

(a) in paragraph 4A, the lead cinematographer, the lead production designer, the lead costume designer, the lead editor, the lead sound designer, the lead visual effects supervisor and the lead hair and makeup supervisor;

(b) in paragraph 4B, the lead cameraman, the lead sound recordist, the lead editor and the lead researcher;

(c) in paragraph 4C, the lead layout supervisor, the lead production designer, the lead character designer, the lead editor, the lead sound designer, the lead visual effects supervisor and the lead modelling supervisor.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs 4A to 4C—

(a) a film is set in the United Kingdom if it is set in a country which is now part of the United Kingdom; and

(b) a film depicts a British story if the subject matter of the film or the underlying material on which the film is based is British.

(4) The amount of work that is carried out in the United Kingdom or elsewhere shall be determined—

(a) for the purposes of paragraph 4A(4)(a) (principal photography), by reference to the number of days spent on the work;

(b) for the purposes of paragraphs 4A(4)(b) to (f), 4B(4)(a) to (f) and 4C(4)(a) to (f) (other matters), by reference to the amount of expenditure on the work.

(5) No points shall be awarded under any provision of paragraph 4A(4), 4B(4) or 4C(4) (points awarded in respect of the making of the film) in respect of work the expenditure on which is, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, insignificant in relation to the expenditure on all the work carried out in the making of the film.”.

(1)

Paragraph 4 was substituted by S.I. 1999/2386.