The UK Film Council has granted extensions to two of the three National Lottery franchises - The Film Consortium and Pathe Pictures - to spend their remaining lottery grants.

The third franchise, DNA Films, is still negotiating with the council but the talks are part of a more complicated deal between DNA and Fox Searchlight.

Both The Film Consortium and Pathe have six month extensions to spend their original lottery grants. The Film Consortium now has until March to spend its final $6.4m (£4m), while Pathe has until April.

DNA's franchise did not kick off until later than the other two, and if granted, should allow the operation to spend its remaining $19.1m (£12m) before August.