Films Act 1985

[F1 4A (1) The cultural test for a film other than a documentary (see paragraph 4B) or an animation (see paragraph 4C) is as follows. U.K.

(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.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1 paras. 4-4D substituted for Sch. 1 para. 4 (1.4.2006) by Films (Definition of British Film) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/643) , arts. 1(1) , 4 (with art. 2 )