The public agencies responsible for supporting and developing film and television in Scotland have defended themselves against "damning criticism" from those working in the sector.

Industry representatives said a lack of leadership from Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise means Scotland has fallen behind other parts of the UK, with the absence of a major studio, a lack of drive to attract film and television makers to the country and limited support for home-grown production companies.

Bosses from both agencies faced a barrage of questions from Holyrood's Economy Committee, with MSPs demanding answers on their plans to grow and promote the sector.

Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland insisted they are working together, citing a number of strategies to boost the industry, including proposals for a new studio, which they described as "an absolute priority".

The agencies also told MSPs that Scotland was already "open for business", with record levels of production spend in 2013 and filming of the big budget television series Outlander taking place at locations around the country.

Committee convener Murdo Fraser said the agencies faced "a fairly damning set of criticisms" from everyone from television bosses and union representatives to a Bafta-nominated producer.

He said that Sunshine on Leith producer Arabella Page Croft had told the committee there had been 26 meetings with Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

"Nothing has happened for our sector, she told us, no intervention has been made to address the systemic market failure, we are pretty depressed and disillusioned," he said.

David Smith, director of creative industries at Scottish Enterprise, said: "We are very clear on the respective contributions and roles we play in supporting businesses and creative organisations.

"Our experience is that there is a very wide appreciation across the creative industry sector, but clearly we have to continue to work as we have been doing with Creative Scotland."

Creative Scotland chief executive Janet Archer said: "I am going to be honest, I think Creative Scotland in its inception wasn't set up in the right way to be able to engage with other public bodies in an effective way.

"We have reorganised ourselves under my leadership in the last 18 months. We have now restructured our policy around arts, screen, creative industries, so (we have) a very specific focus on each industry under a director."

"From our perspective, things are happening," she added.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont and Green MSP Patrick Harvie quizzed the agencies on progress towards building a film studio.

"People see the issue of the film studio as a classic example of an indicator that actually you are getting your act together," Ms Lamont said.

"Can you tell me when that decision will be made?"

Mr Harvie said the agencies should set a date for a decision on the studio because "a deadline focuses the mind".

Mr Smith said: "I can assure you we are putting every effort into progressing this opportunity. We have received five proposals... and we are currently in confidential negotiations.

"There is absolutely every urgency and pace, but we are also adopting an approach to ensure that we do everything in the right manner."

Ms Archer said: "We ended the last meeting that we had I think all agreeing that we are closer than we have ever been before to finding in a solution, so we are determined to find a way through this."

Natalie Usher, director of film and media at Creative Scotland, said that despite not having a studio or additional funding to award to companies bringing their productions to Scotland, the country has had some successes.

"We accept that we need to do more," she said.

But she added that Scottish production spend for 2013 stood at £33.6 million, the highest ever figure.

That year included part of the first season of Outlander, which has been "incredibly significant" for Scotland, Ms Usher said.

Spend for 2014 is expected to be "dramatically higher".

"That is an incredibly good news story for us," she said.

"What we need to do is also capitalise on that by, in my view, having an inward investment fund."

Janet Archer said: "It is our understanding that looking at the figures, that the first year of Outlander has actually been more successful than the first year of Game of Thrones."

She added: "It has to be about funding, it has to be about talent development and it has to be about the studio.

"There are three knitted-together entities, and if we can get those right then we will be able to get Scotland into that next stage of where it outputs strongly across film and screen."