Michael Kuhn, one of the UK's most esteemed film directors, has revelaed his fears over the future of the British film industry.

Speaking at the Pact Film Lecture in London, Mr Kuhn was appealing to the government and the UK Film Council to improve funding.

"As many of these sources of funding are expiring or are themselves dependent on tax regimes, there is less equity about. So the hour is dark. Darker I think than most years in my lifetime," he said.

He claimed that even successful films such as Shaun Of The Dead did not generate enough money at the cinema, relying on television rights and video sales just to compensate for production costs.

Mr Kuhn is the former president of Polygram Films, responsible for heavy investment in British films and a 1990s Hollywood revival.

Box-office successes included Four Weddings And A Funeral, Notting Hill, Bean and Fargo, attracting huge stars such as Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi and Rowan Atkinson.

His most recent films include I Heart Huckabees, starring Jude Law, and Liam Neeson's Kinsey.