Despite Steve Reed OBE MP, cabinet member, 2 more MPs Liam Conlon and Helen Hayes, 4 councilors and this petition, that you should KEEP SHARING, all putting pressure on, the councils are still digging their heels in enforcing 22 year out of date legislation for ‘protecting children from harm’ when they themselves have allowed us to rate our own films for the past 16 years with ZERO complaints or issues. We already have all the safety protocols in place. No child has or will come to harm at a cultural film festival.

We have put all measures in place to show we choose films CAREFULLY. But, the councils are simply obstructive saying one thing replying to the MPs and either ignore or say the opposite to CPIFF emails. 

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS EXTORTION?:- One council insisted they need a 'formal application' before they can even discuss anything (they do not, they could just discuss it). So we submitted a film. They reduced the fee from £150/hour to £75/hour as we are a cultural festival (yay thanks!) but after I submitted a 16 minute film and paid £20 (the other council charge by the minute) they called me to say it is £75 no matter how long your film. If it is 1 hour and 1 minute you pay the full fee again! SO if you're unlucky enough to have to pay £150/hour they will charge you £300 for a 1 hour 1 minute film!! THIS IS EXPLOITATIVE AND EXTORTIONATE.

I ALMOST SAID ON THE PHONE: I will send a new word doc with 2 more films to make up the 60 mins and then pay the extra fee (we are a cash strapped film festival after all) but thought I'll just pay the extra £55 and email the new form it will be fine - who would ever find an issue with that...

I get an email from the boss 'your initial application has already been 'processed' you must submit your new films on a new application and pay the full fee again.' He has literally just sent my video link to one of his 'officers' to watch the film to see if it can have a 15 rating!

He keeps saying he realises how important the festival is for the area and how they want to support us launching youngsters into film careers but then extorts money from us with delaying tactics. I don't know what else to do; the world and common sense are on our side but they just want to blindly enforce meaningless red tape because they can! We will keep fighting because inspiring young creatives into jobs is our proudest legacy... PLEASE KEEP SHARING!