BFI ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019-20 HC 1086 SG/2020/289 BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE Group and National Lottery Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 34(3) and 35(5) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (as amended by the National Lottery Act 1998 and the National Lottery Act 2006). ORDERED BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO BE PRINTED ON 17 DECEMBER 2020 Presented to the Scottish Parliament pursuant to the Scotland Act 1998 Section 88 Charity Registration no: 287780 © BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE (2020) The text of this document (this excludes, where present, the Royal Arms and all departmental and agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as British Film Institute copyright and the document title specified. Where third party material has been identified, permission from the respective copyright holder must be sought. Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at: [email protected]. ISBN 978-1-5286-2391-9 CCS0121958420 12/20 You can download this publication from our website at www.bfi.org.uk. CONTENTS Mission and Values Page 5 Chair and Chief Executive’s Report Page 6 What we delivered this year Page 8 Leadership and Advocacy Page 33 Fundraising and Philanthropy Page 40 Key Performance Measures Page 49 Financial Review Page 52 Public Benefit Page 57 Environmental Sustainability Page 60 How the BFI is Governed Page 65 Remuneration Report Page 71 Corporate Information Page 82 Governance Statement Page 83 BFI GROUP AND CHARITY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Governors and Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities Page 90 Independent Auditors Report Page 93 BFI Group and Charity Financial Statements Page 97 NATIONAL LOTTERY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Governors and Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities Page 136 Independent Auditors Report Page 137 National Lottery Financial Statements Page 141 STATUTORY BACKGROUND Page 174 MISSION AND VALUES The BFI is the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image and we are the distributor of National Lottery funds for film. Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter and our role is to: Curate and present the greatest international public programme of world cinema for audiences; in cinemas, at festivals and online Care for the BFI National Archive – the most significant film and television archive in the world Actively seek out and support the next generation of filmmakers Work with Government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally. BFI2022 is our current five-year plan. Its focus is on the future and shaping the BFI’s next chapter for film, television, animation and the moving image more widely as we embrace the fast-evolving technological creative arena and post-EU exit world. The strategy is arranged in four sections: Future audiences Future learning and skills Future talent Leadership It is underpinned by a wider interpretation of film to embrace new forms, a sustained commitment to inclusion and diversity, and creating more opportunity for everyone across the whole of the UK. In carrying out our duties, we undertake to: Consider the views of the industry, our audiences and our partners Be efficient, effective and accessible Be honest, open and accountable for our actions Provide clear and appropriate information, guidance and feedback Share and learn best practice in order to continually improve the services on offer. 5 CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT As we started the current financial year, we could not have guessed that in its final quarter we would experience one of the biggest upheavals in recent times to our communities and to the world, alongside the triggering of unprecedented economic uncertainty and risk. Although COVID-19 was only in its early stages at the final time of reporting, the activity and context of this annual review can now only be viewed through the new world order the pandemic has imposed and the rapid and immediate curtailment of almost every aspect of our BFI activity. We will report in more detail and with greater insight in the time to come when we are able to take a longer view on what has happened. We can then assess the impact of the pandemic on us, the wider screen industry, our partners, business relationships and colleagues along with the effectiveness of the measures we undertook at pace to mediate the impact of the UK lockdown and to ensure our sector can thrive as we recover. In the meantime, this annual review offers an initial picture of a year of exciting growth and UK activity, and is ending with a lockdown, and by concerted efforts across all aspects of industry working together and with Government on a tactical recovery plan to restart. The top to tail repurposing of our activity to meet these challenges has been achieved through the sheer dedication and determination of many as we moved quickly and decisively to deal with the pandemic. There are many people to thank. We are part of a community of innovative and talented creatives working across the entire value chain. We have been committed to supporting the individuals, organisations and businesses who have been most impacted by COVID-19, and we developed a programme of support, which sat alongside the Government’s extensive fiscal package. We listened to the industry to understand where the immediate need was most, and repurposed over £4.6m in National Lottery funding to target specific areas of the sector, including exhibitors, freelancers and productions that had to halt in the wake of COVID- 19. We adjusted criteria on key existing schemes – including our annual £2.5m Development Fund and the BFI Locked Box – in response to issues such as cash flow and company overhead. Meanwhile all our existing funds for shorts, features and talent development funds – which will total £21.9m in 2020-21 – remained open. Recognising the need to help our industry deliver for audiences during this period, we encouraged applicants to our Audience Fund Project Awards, with £1.6m available in 2020-21, to work on inventive online audience-facing activity to help bring films direct to audiences while our cinemas are closed. 6 Producers continued to be supported through the BFI International Fund to capitalise on upcoming virtual markets, and we have assessed how to adapt our Film Export Fund to effectively support sales agents once physical international festivals and markets resume. Alongside this, we remained in close collaboration with Government and a wide range of partners through the BFI’s Screen Sector Task Force, through which we have already helped to shape measures introduced to support our industry from new guidelines for film and television production and cinemas to a quarantine exemption for cast and crew, a restart scheme for productions struggling with getting COVID-insurance and a Culture Recovery Fund for independent cinemas in England. The Government has been really supportive throughout this process, and while this vital work continues, we are also focused on developing a strategy for our recovery. As a new Chief Executive, only three weeks in to the job when lockdown hit, it has been an immersion of the deepest kind. I am honoured to be at the helm at this time, working with and guided by an engaged and inspiring Board of Governors under Chair Josh Berger, and of course, with our brilliant people at the BFI. I also give heartfelt thanks to my predecessor Amanda Nevill, who led this organisation for 17 extraordinary years, accomplishing a total transformation of the BFI and taking it from strength to strength. Among her many outstanding achievements she has ensured the BFI National Archive is safe and accessible for future generations, successfully taken on the role of the UK’s National Lottery distributor for film, transformed BFI Southbank into a leading cultural venue, launched the BFI Film Academy, VOD service BFI Player and the BFI Film Audience Network across the UK, and introduced to the industry the pioneering BFI Diversity Standards and guidance to tackle racism, bullying and harassment. It was a fitting finale as she was awarded a BFI Fellowship to honour her remarkable contribution to British film, television and the moving image at a special celebratory farewell with industry guests and colleagues. This is also the moment to acknowledge the vital importance of all BFI staff and to thank them for their tireless work throughout the year. They will prove absolutely vital to the continued growth of the BFI as we emerge from the pandemic. Pat Butler Ben Roberts Interim Chair, Board of Governors Chief Executive 7 WHAT WE DELIVERED THIS YEAR FUTURE AUDIENCES We believe that everyone, everywhere in the UK should have opportunities to enjoy and learn from the richest and broadest range of great British and international filmmaking, past and present. This is central to our goal of encouraging ambition in filmmakers, and creating an appetite in audiences for a diverse range of film and moving image making, especially for audiences aged 16-30. As well as showcasing contemporary and world cinema, we create ambitious programming and access opportunities to bring our national collection of film, television and the moving image to current and future audiences. Cultural programme Until hit with the COVID-19 lockdown at the end of the year in review, 2019-20 was proving one of our most successful years ever in terms of audience size and reach across all of our platforms. This included our own cinemas and partner cinemas across the UK, on BFI Player – our video on demand platform, BFI DVD releases and online.