David Cameron's call for more "commercially successful" British films has been criticised by movie director Michael Winner.
Speaking on Jeff Randall Live, the veteran producer described the Prime Minister's comments as "a joke".
"Does he seriously think that someone at the British Film Institute is going to be capable of knowing what films are commercially successful? It's nonsense," he said.
A forthcoming review on Government funding policy is expected to recommend more Lottery money for independent pictures with big potential.
But Mr Winner said that even The King's Speech, last year's Oscar-winner film starring Colin Firth, would not have been identified as a box office hit - and it is the UK's highest grossing independent film ever.
"I don't think that people would have chosen that as a commercial film, certainly nowhere near to the degree it has become," he said.
"There are always these... strange films that break through, but 90% or 99% of British films die a death."
Mr Cameron signalled he wants producers to get more help to generate successful pictures that do not have to be bankrolled by Hollywood studios.
Mr Winner, director of Death Wish, said film makers do not need public funding, especially in the current economic climate.
"I find it very difficult to accept at any time and particularly today, that when we're asking people to cut salaries, cut pensions... And we're told: put the money into movies. Please, let them make movies that make a profit of their own accord."
A review by Lord Smith, Labour's former culture secretary, is expected to recommend the development of an export strategy for UK film expertise.
But Mr Cameron's words have sparked anger from an industry struggling under the double blow of Arts Council grant cuts and the abolition of the UK Film Council in 2010.
Film maker Johnny Daukes, who wrote and directed his first feature film Acts of Godfrey, said Mr Cameron's comments were "idiotic... like re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
"Nobody can predict what is going to be a success, the danger of going down that path is you end up trying to imitate other successful films rather than creating something new and distinct.
"What we need is money to be invested in a UK distribution system like the French model, creating an attractive market for investors."
Mr Daukes said when he approached the UK Film Council for help in making his film three years ago he was told it could not be supported because it was not a commercial proposition.
"Of course hard decisions have to be made but in spite of that we were premiered at Raindance, nominated for a BIFA and are enjoying a limited release later this month.
"Possibly some investment could have been granted to Acts of Godfrey instead of...say... Lesbian Vampire Killers?"
GQ magazine's literary editor Olivia Cole said: "I find Cameron's comments particularly crass at the start of the awards season with the Bafta long lists out and the Golden Globes at the weekend, where British film punches far far above its weight with films like Steve McQueen's Shame, My Week With Marilyn by first-time Brit director Simon Curtis, as well as the Iron Lady.
"The moment British films try to imitate mainstream Hollywood fare is the moment that they become totally irrelevant."
Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes added: "The key to building a dynamic industry will always lie in film's relationship with the audience.
"That was all too often neglected in publicly funded movies of the past.
"In a nutshell, we need to make films that people want to see, and the audience for home-grown films will increase as we support a much broader range."
Mr Cameron said the British film industry made a £4bn annual contribution to the economy and an "incalculable contribution to our culture".
"But in this year when we set out bold ambitions for the future, when the eyes of the world will be on us, I think we should aim even higher, building on the incredible success of recent years," he said.
"Our role, and that of the British Film Institute (BFI), should be to support the sector in becoming even more dynamic and entrepreneurial, helping UK producers to make commercially successful pictures that rival the quality and impact of the best international productions.
"Just as the British Film Commission has played a crucial role in attracting the biggest and best international studios to produce their films here, so we must incentivise UK producers to chase new markets both here and overseas."
Mr Cameron held talks with small businesses during his visit to Pinewood Studios, which has been running for more than 70 years.
As well as hosting Bond films including The Spy Who Loved Me and, more recently, Quantum (NYSE: QTM - news) of Solace, they were also used for blockbusters Mamma Mia! and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
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