BBC looks for more foreign-language films

In the UK, BBC's senior editor of films Steve Jenkins believes there is increasing value in foreign language blockbusters and the select few pre-watershed family feature films available.

Jenkins told C21: {We are happy to air foreign language films on BBC4 as they do not always get the slots on BBC2. There is obviously a smaller audience for these films but they air very quickly after their theatrical release – often within a year – as they don't get the Sky airing first. We can also get a BBC4 credit on the foreign-language films if we buy them early.{

For the digital arts channel BBC4, the BBC has already acquired Sony Pictures' Finnish film The Man Without a Past which is currently playing in cinemas.

Because of the BBC's decision to move the news from 21:00 to 22:00, Jenkins is also trying to find a balance of more action films later in the schedule and family-suitable movies such as the Indiana Jones trilogy, The Mummy, Billy Elliot and Bend It Like Beckham for the 20:00 slot on BBC1.

He said: {The titles before the news have become increasingly valuable but our schedule also makes us look at older titles like Indiana Jones. They used to be played in afternoon slots and now the films can be slotted together and played in prime time, giving them added value.{

The BBC airs around 1,200 films, across its four channels, per year. Jenkins added: {We want a range of titles to slot across the schedule. There is increasing competition from the other terrestrial channels, particularly Five, but we are not losing many of the films we want.{

Following a feature film package deal with distributor Helkon this month, the BBC has also signed deals for a package of high-profile movies with Disney's distribution arm Buena Vista International and Warner Bros.

To add to the upcoming blockbuster films received from output deals with Dreamworks and New Regency, such as cgi hit Shrek and Minority Report, the BBC has picked up 12 films from Warner Bros including Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone, Training Day and a catalogue of library films.

The Buena Vista deal has given the BBC rights to Pearl Harbor, The Others with Nicole Kidman, Crimson Tide and a selection of family movies.