Bill Nighy, Timothy Spall and Emily Blunt were among those who asserted that “We owe any success we have had in our acting careers, to varying degrees, to films supported by the UK Film Council.” They went on to acknowledge that although they could find work abroad, the cuts would hit film production staff much harder.

Earlier this week AusFilm head Jackie O’Sullivan intimated that Australian production companies could seek to poach UK film crews, but for those unable or unwilling to move Down Under prospects could be bleak. As well as a huge economic and cultural loss, the proposed cuts could have a real human cost for many of the 44,000 people directly employed by our film industry.

It’s encouraging to see so many high-profile supporters of the UKFC, but the people making most of a media stir at the moment are those backing the campaign to save it through the associated petition and Facebook group. If you haven’t signed yet, make sure you register your support for this vital bastion of UK arts excellence.

Bis Nichts Mehr Bleibt, or Until Nothing Remains, tells the (apparently) true story of a German family torn apart by its associations with Scientology. A young married couple joins the organisation but as the wife gets sucked ever more deeply into the group, her husband, who has donated much of his money to it, decides to leave. In the process he loses contact with his young daughter who, like his wife, is being educated by Scientology instructors.

Scientology leaders have protested against the film, and have demanded access to it before it’s release. The cult leaders have stated that the film is “false and intolerant”. At a preview screening in Hamburg members distributed flyers in which the filmmakers were accused of seeking to “create a mood of intolerance and discrimination against a religious community”. Religious? It’s a cult. Let’s be honest here.

The directors of the German film are adamant that they are not hate-mongering, rather simply trying to expose a truthful account of life ruled by Scientology. As far as we’re concerned, the sooner this film comes out the better.

What’s your angle on the Scientology phenomenon? Let us know below…