US actor and director Robert Redford says the film industry should get more credit for the contribution it makes to the wider economy.
"Someone needs to step forward and talk about the economic benefits that films bring," he said at the launch of the second Sundance London film festival, which runs from 25 to 28 April.
Film, he said, "brings billions to the table and that should be made clear".
Redford said the film industry gave work to "people who not only work in film, who make the films ... but (also) people who work to display the films in theatres".
The film industry contributed more than £4.6 billion to the British economy in 2011, according to a report published in September. The industry also sustained more than 117,000 jobs.
Redford has returned to the capital for the second London offshoot of his Utah film festival.
