The UK's Film Council has appointed Himesh Kar senior executive in charge of culturally diverse film-making for the New Cinema Fund.

Kar, who was previously development producer at London's World Productions and a junior agent with the William Morris Agency (UK), will work with New Cinema Fund head Paul Trijbits to encourage black and Asian film production in the UK. The New Cinema Fund has an annual budget of £5m to support first-time film-makers and innovative projects.

Kar hopes to promote the Fund to cultural groups underrepresented by the British film industry, encouraging them to work within mainstream genres such as horror films, romantic comedies, thrillers and teen-oriented pictures.