Jobs to go as Channel 4 restructures Film Four

Channel 4 has confirmed it plans to restructure Film Four, a move which will lead to "significant job losses".

FilmFour Ltd will lose its distribution and international sales functions.

It will instead concentrate on low-budget British films after much of its recent output proved to be expensive box office flops.

FilmFour Ltd's chief executive Paul Webster said he did not want to head the revamped division.

Although film production will continue with a much reduced budget of £10 million, Film Four will be reabsorbed into Channel 4 after being launched as a separate subsidiary four years ago.

Recent efforts such as Charlotte Gray have enjoyed lukewarm success and Film Four's last big hit was another modestly produced movie, East Is East, in 1999.

FilmFour Ltd employs 59 staff at its headquarters in Charlotte Street, London.