The impact of digital technology on the film industry has been given a boost, including plans for a digital Film Festival, by a Screen Digest report. The report, the Implications of Digital Technology for the Film Industry, was commissioned by Minister for Film, Dr Kim Howells. Among the recommendations are proposals to increase access to digital cinema, either through updating existing cinemas or building new digital screens; establishing Internet venues to showcase British films and a digital Film Festival. The plans also include using DVD technology to cut costs, by creating multi-lingual master copies of films for International markets. ‘The film industry has undergone a quiet revolution with the development of digital technology,’ Dr Howells commented. ‘Yet not everyone in the industry has sat up and taken notice. 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. This report makes an excellent starting point for that discussion, both in the industry and futher afield,’ Dr Howells said. The Screen Digest Report on The Implications of Digital Technology for the Film Industry is available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website, www.culture.gov.uk/creative/, click on Forms and Documents.