Minister welcomes digital film report

Phantom Menace: One of the first films shown digitally

Minister for Film Kim Howells has welcomed a groundbreaking report which emphasises the importance of digital technology in the film industry.

The report was produced by Screen Digest, a monthly publication which reports on audio-visual media, for the Department for Culture, Media And Sport (DCMS).

It is hoped that the report's findings will encourage action from the film industry, backed by government support.

It's vital that we have this debate to ensure the UK film industry keeps up with the pace of new technology

Dr Kim Howells

Its recommendations include:

Speeding up access to digital cinema either by converting existing cinemas or building new screens

Creating websites to showcase British films

Establishing a dedicated digital film festival

The report also seeks to promote the use of DVD technology to create multi-lingual master copies of films for use in foreign markets.

"The film industry has undergone a quiet revolution with the development of digital technology," said Dr Howells.

"Yet not everyone in the industry has sat up and taken notice.

Kim Howells: "Report an excellent starting point"

"That's why it's so vital that we have this debate now to ensure that the UK film industry keeps up with the pace of new technology."

Dr Howells added that the report was "an excellent starting point for discussions, both in the industry and further afield".

Clearer films

So far about 50 theatres worldwide are equipped with digital systems, with each projector costing up to $200,000 (£139,130). But the expense of switching to digital projection has deterred cinema owners from making the switch.

Toy Story 2 was shown at some cinemas in digital format

Digital projectors work by reading an image that has been scanned into a computer. The projector then transforms the computer code into moving pictures on the screen.

The projectors promise clearer, sharper films that will not deteriorate no matter how many times they are shown or copied.

Copies of the films themselves are cheaper to make, because they can be stored on a computer instead of on expensive celluloid.

The first major blockbuster to be shown through a digital projector was 1999's Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace.

Toy Story 2 and Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones are among those that have also received digital screenings in selected cinemas.