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A significant factor has to be in developing the script in the first instance. There simple isn't enough development money for indie producers to find an idea (or writer) and then spend the time developing that into a viable and commercial script. The Bfi has a tediously slow process taking around 12wks to progress a pitch past the 1st stage. Outside of this scheme, none of the established production houses seem willing to develop work - except from within their own inner circle of collaborators. And I hear the reply that if the idea is good enough it will find a home...but that is simply not true in our experience.
The lack of funding at the development stage effectively asks the writer and director or producer to work for free in developing a project. This drastically reduces the amount of films that can progress to getting financed and shot.