FILM IN ENGLAND - UK Film Council - British Film Institute

cultural exhibition strategy which aims to improve the availability of a wider range of
material across the UK, and this has included developing relationships with the
commercial sector as well as strengthening the relationship with the regional film
theatres. This department is also directly responsible for running the National Film
Theatre and the London Film Festival and London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, and for
developing film activities UK-wide through the Film Festival Fund and support for the
British Federation of Film Societies.
A new role for the bfi
Under the proposals contained in this strategy document, the bfi will focus on: its core
educational remit; provision of standard-setting UK-wide services; giving greater access
to its information databases; developing the J Paul Getty Conservation Centre at
Berkhamsted into a state-of-the-art conservation and research centre; and developing a
new national centre of excellence for film on London’s South Bank.
The bfi’s regional planning functions and funding role will be transferred to the FILM
COUNCIL. The bfi will no longer therefore have a direct funding role to support activities
in the English regions (or UK nations). Under these new arrangements, the bfi will play
a central role in assisting the FILM COUNCIL to develop policies and strategies to support
film education, heritage and cultural exhibition throughout the UK and will advise the
FILM COUNCIL on those elements of the Regional Investment Fund which are relevant to
the bfi’s areas of expertise and activity. The FILM COUNCIL will invite bfi representatives
to attend relevant planning meetings at which these items are considered.
On a practical level, from April 2001, the bfi will no longer coordinate the bfi National
Film and Video Forum or the Joint Officers’ Group for film, but will be represented at any
equivalent meetings the FILM COUNCIL may convene at which matters concerning
education, collections or exhibition are discussed.
The bfi will continue to develop projects and programmes of work, particularly in the
areas of formal and informal education, which can be delivered on request to the nations
and regions. Where appropriate such programmes and projects will be developed in
partnership with local organisations to ensure that they are of maximum relevance to
local audiences and meet local educational and cultural needs. The bfi will also continue
to offer specific advice to regional archives and regional film theatres to help them to
achieve their objectives, including programming and marketing advice and a bookings
service to RFTs that want to maintain such arrangements.
On this basis, the bfi looks forward to developing effective working relationships with
the FILM COUNCIL and film organisations across the UK to help deliver the best possible
film and moving image related educational and cultural opportunities to the widest
possible audience.
bfi, September 2000
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Appendices
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