LONDON --- Miramax Films has pulled out of the race to win one of the four British film production franchises to be funded by the national lottery.
Miramax was originally planning to make a bid in partnership with Mayfair Entertainment Group and Channel 4. But Channel 4's withdrawal from the consortium made Miramax rethink its position, and the American company decided its involvement in a lottery bid would be inappropriate.
"There are a lot of far more deserving people than Miramax to get this money," said the company's London-based production chief Paul Webster. "We're happy that the initiative is producer-led, and we'll be able to work with the producers who win."
Mayfair is pushing ahead with its bid, and intends to partner with a number of producers. The deadline for applications is Feb. 28.
Miramax currently is in post-production on three British movies --- "Wings of a Dove," "B Monkey" and "Sarajevo." Next before the camera will be Hugh Hudson's "World of Moss," to shoot this spring.
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