London, May 14: Oscar-winning director Lord Richard Attenborough urged the government yesterday to make a long-term commitment to the British Film Industry or risk saying goodbye to its classic movies. Attenborough said it was "very sad" that the government was planning to end tax relief for film production in Britain in 2005, which had greatly boosted the homegrown industry.
"There is no question whatsoever that the industry cannot succeed without some form of assistance," the Labor Party Peer told legislators on the culture, media and sport select committee. "The one thing I am certain of is that until we accept that a form of subsidy, some form or another, whether a tax concession is accepted as a prerequisite for the British film industry, the British film industry will continue to jump and flop and climb up again and flop again."
"We should be saying to government, 'give us an ongoing position. Allow us to continue. It has to have a long-term basis." Lord Attenborough also sent a message to the British film industry to stick to making characteristically British films like "Four Weddings And A Funeral," "Billy Elliot" and "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Attenborough's directorial credits include the Oscar-winning "Gandhi." He also has starred in films such as "The Great Escape," "Elizabeth" and "Jurassic Park." Bureau Report