New Brit Flicks Coming Soon

Partly thanks to tax incentives, an emboldened UK Film Council and a more positive world economy since September 11th, last year was a record year for British movies in production - at least 75 films involving British finance or talent or both set the cameras rolling.

Of course, we've seen all this before, so Making Movies scanned the production lists to take an accurate temperature reading.

Here's what to expect from 2004 and beyond...

DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S BETTER FOR GIRLS...

The biggest trend for UK films in 2004 was long overdue. No fewer than thirteen films directed by women are currently shooting, in post-production or waiting to hit the cinemas.

Naturally, there are some familiar names: Sally 'Orlando' Potter, Beeban 'To Wong Fu' Kidron and Gurinder Chadha have all got back into the saddle, the latter rumoured to be a millionaire after cannily retaining financial credits on Bend It Like Beckham's massive US release.

Potter has shot Yes, a passionate story of love and religion about a politician's wife who falls for a handsome Middle Easterner, in Belfast, London, Beirut and Havana. Kidron landed the plumb follow-up job of the year, with Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, due out in November, complete with the same cast including Hugh Grant. Chadha is doing what she was born to do, Bride And Prejudice: A Bollywood Musical, which we imagine will do everything it says on the label.