The European film industry has by now lost most of its audience to American films; US productions take around eighty per cent of Europe's box-office revenues. There are many reasons for this imbalance, but one major difference between the European and the US film industries is easily identified: the Americans spend far more on development.

Developing Feature Films in Europe is the first comprehensive study of this critical stage of the film-making process. Based on extensive research and interviews with more than seventy industry practitioners, it examines current funding practices, presents training initiatives for writers and producers, and highlights the potential for further improvements. Angus Finney has also compiled an invaluable directory of contacts, addresses and application procedures for public and private funding bodies throughout Europe.