20 of the UK's top film outfits including the UK FilmCouncil, Channel 4, BBC Films, BAFTA, and Vue Cinemas have joined forces tolaunch an Equalities Charter for Film.

Billed as the first charter of its kind, it aims to promoteequal opportunities good practice and tackle issues of access, training andrepresentation, both behind the camera and on-screen.

The companies came together last night at the RoyalCommonwealth Society to launch the signing of the charter.

The charter aims to address a number of issues, includingtackling the barriers that lead to exclusion and under-representation in theindustry and encouraging people from all communities to access and enjoy filmculture

The full list of participants in the signing of thecharter is: the UK Film Council, BAFTA, BBC Films, BECTU, British ScreenAdvisory Council, British Video Association, the Casting Directors' Guild ofGreat Britain, Channel 4, Cinema Exhibitors' Association, Directors Guild ofGreat Britain, Equity, Film Distributors' Association, Leo Davis - CastingDirector, New Producers Alliance, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television(Pact), the Production Guild, Production Managers Association, Skillset, UKPost, Vue Cinemas, the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

At the same time, a new DVD to inspire young people,particularly those from ethnic minority groups, to consider a career in film wasrevealed. The DVD features interviews with director Gurinder Chadha (Bend itlike Beckham, Bride and Prejudice), Naomie Harris (28 Days Later,After the Sunset), Vas Blackwood (Creep, Lock Stock') anddirector Asif Kapadia (The Warrior). The DVD was produced with thesupport of Working Titles Films, New Producers Alliance and Skillset, and isavailable free to schools, colleges and careers services.

Recent UK Film Council analysis has shown that peoplefrom minority ethnic groups made up only 5% of the film production workforce,below the UK all-sectors average of 7% and well below the London workforceaverage of 24%.