Irish film-makers fearful of cuts in government spending will have shivered at recent news from across the water. Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary in the UK’s coalition government, has confirmed that he intends to close down the UK Film Council.

John Woodward, chief executive of the Council (whichdistributes grants from the Lottery Fund to film-makers, among other tasks) seemed genuinely surprised by the announcement, saying the proposal was “short-sighted and potentially very damaging, especially as there is at present no roadmap setting out where the UK Film Council’s responsibilities and funding will be placed in the future”.

Virtually every movie grandee approached by the press agreed. Director Alex Cox, perennial difficult sod, proved the most notable exception. “It’s very good news for anyone involved in independent film,” he said. “The Film Council became a means by which lottery money was transferred to the Hollywood studios.” So there.