Aussies warn Brits: If you don’t want a film industry, we’ll take it

The London film industry was issued a stark warning by one of its major foreign competitors today as the axe looms over the UK Film Council.

Foreign film companies are already eyeing up the big international productions that come to the UK and would move aggressively to lure them away if the body was scrapped, according to the head of Ausfilm, the council's Australian counterpart.

As most of the UK's production companies are based in London and the South-East, it could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

The Government has faced fierce criticism since announcing plans to scrap the council as part of a cost-cutting drive by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Jackie O'Sullivan, the head of Ausfilm, said: "The UK Film Council is a fantastic co-production partner for us, but on the other hand, if it doesn't exist I wonder if there is a question mark over the whole sustainability of the UK film industry.

"Will the big US studios still go to the UK? The UK is a competitor for Australia. If the big US studios are not going to go to England we would like to see them come to Australia, and we will be chasing them."

She also admitted that the poaching of film crews from the UK was a "possibility".

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London, said: "The UK film industry is one of the biggest in the world, attracting £752 million of inward investment, making a large and vital contribution to the country's economy.

"London is the centre of the UK's industry. It is important to ensure the film industry continues to grow and is able to compete on a global level."