2015/2016 REVIEW ANNUAL 1 OUR MISSION & VA LUES The BFI serves a public role which Film Forever is our strategic covers the cultural, creative and plan for 2012–2017, which covers economic aspects of film in the UK. all BFI activity, and focuses on three priority areas: Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter. – Expanding education and learning Under the Royal Charter, the BFI has and boosting audience choice; five objectives: – Supporting the future success of British film; – To encourage the development of – Unlocking our film and television the arts of film, television and the heritage. moving image throughout the UK; – To promote their use as a record of contemporary life and manners; In carrying out our duties, we undertake to: – To promote education about film, television and the moving image – Consider the views of the industry, generally, and their impact on society; our audiences and our partners – To promote access to and appreciation – Be efficient, effective and accessible of the widest possible range of British and world cinema; – Be honest, open and accountable for our actions – To establish, care for and develop collections reflecting the moving – Provide clear and appropriate image history and heritage of the UK. information, guidance and feedback – Share and learn best practice in order to continually improve the services The BFI is the distributor of National on offer. Lottery funds for film. 2 3 CONTENTS CINEMAS & EVENTS ON THE PAGE 18 INTERNATIONAL STAGE CHAIR & CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT ENGAGING WITH THE PAGE 38 PAGE 4 CONTEMPORARY PAGE 20 UNLOCKING OUR FILM HERITAGE FOR EXPANDING EVERYONE TO ENJOY EDUCATION BFI LONDON AND BOOSTING FILM FESTIVAL PAGE 42 AUDIENCE CHOICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PAGE 6 AMERICAN EXPRESS® DIGITISATION PAGE 22 PAGE 44 BFI FLARE: LONDON KEY BFI LGBT FILM FESTIVAL RESTORATIONS PAGE 24 & REMASTERED FILMS PAGE 46 UK WIDE ACTIVITIES PAGE 26 PUBLIC POLICY, LEADERSHIP NURTURING YOUNG & ADVOCACY TALENT AND SKILLS SUPPORTING THE PAGE 48 PAGE 10 FUTURE SUCCESS OF BRITISH FILM PAGE 34 FUNDRAISING & GROWING AUDIENCES PHILANTHROPHY & CHOICE UK WIDE PAGE 50 PAGE 12 DIVERSITY PAGE 32 BFI INCOME BFI DIGITAL & EXPENDITURE PAGE 14 SUPPORTING FUTURE FILMMAKING PAGE 54 PAGE 34 THE BFI CULTURAL PROGRAMME 4 PAGE 16 5 CHAIR & CHIEF Meanwhile, our education partner, Into Film, distinctive British voices, is demonstrably In a continuing challenging financial ready to launch the new strategy in celebrated at reaching over 9,000 schools working. Alumni from the first year environment we are particularly pleased the autumn. with active film clubs. A particular note are already finding their way into the to see growth in earned income from all EXECUTIVE’S of gratitude should be made here for the Industry, while others are undertaking our charitable activities. We set ourselves Finally after eight years our Chair, 9,000 teacher volunteers leading these further film training, including a lucky tough targets and as well as growing our Greg Dyke, came to the end of his second great initiatives. few who have been selected for places at existing activities, we have created new term in February 2016. Greg has had the National Film & Television School. income sources, such as an international a profound influence upon modern REPORT Our partners across the Film Audience For emerging filmmakers, BFI NET.WORK learning course in modern film archive television and popular culture and he The 59th BFI London Film Festival opened Network – nine leading not-for-profit film partners with Creative England, Creative care which attracted paying participants has made a massive impact on so many and closed with two standout British films. theatres around the UK working with their Scotland, Northern Ireland Screen from countries as far afield as China, other sectors from film to journalism Suffragette, proudly supported by the network of over a 1,000 partners – joined and Ffilm Cymru Wales on a range of Russia and Japan. We are also seeing and sport. His contribution to the BFI BFI and FILM4, was our opening gala forces with the BFI to bring an astonishing initiatives to support talented individuals individuals, corporate partners and cannot be overstated. In challenging film, while Danny Boyle’s biopic of Steve range of dynamic opportunities for in furthering their careers and projects. trusts and foundations place a growing times he has provided inspirational Jobs brought the Festival to a wonderful audiences to enjoy a wide range of film. value on the importance of our activities. leadership to the Board and organisation. conclusion. Making it to the top slots in These included sell-out screenings in our Alongside our mission to find and support In a competitive environment the Festival His ambition and passion for the BFI the programme, these two great British LOVE blockbuster season, ranging from future filmmakers, it is a privilege to was supported by increased sponsorship National Archive, improving diversity, films had to really stand out against Wings of a Dove at Paisley Abbey and support those already making their way and our bi-annual fundraising Gala educational opportunities and our stiff competition from the rest of the A Matter of Life and Death at Norton successfully in the industry. Many BFI- ‘Luminous’ far exceeded our expectation. digital capabilities, together with his world. The number of distinctive British Aerodrome, to the Nottingham Games backed films such as Brooklyn, High Rise, determination to make the BFI UK-wide films winning critical acclaim on the Festival’s exploration of amorous The Lobster, and 45 Years have achieved We would like to record our thanks to the has been transformative. We were world festival circuit has increased storytelling in games. critical success with BAFTA and Oscar® Department for Culture Media and Sport, delighted to bestow a Fellowship on steadily in recent years, and a reminder nominations and proved popular with who supported our income generating him for his outstanding contribution that success can’t be measured just in Our pledge to digitise and make available audiences internationally. ambitions with a capital grant to further to television and film. Greg leaves a economic terms, but driven by creativity 10,000 titles from the BFI National Archive commercialise our estate at Stephen Street significant legacy; one that we, the Board – something the Brits have in spades. and significant regional archives connected With a firm look to the future, the BFI and BFI Southbank. and the wider organisation are proud with audiences with a level of exuberant made a major commitment to diversity to build on. Our role is to do all we can to bring enthusiasm that even the most optimistic and inclusion by introducing the Diversity As we approach the end of Film Forever, forward the next generation of creative could only have dreamed of. In the first Standards for all those seeking funding our five–year strategy for film 2012-17, As we move into the next era, we are people, to give opportunity where it nine months following the launch of the from us. The scheme has received we have begun the process of developing delighted to welcome to the Chair, might not exist. Our mission is to make first 3,000 titles on ‘Britain on Film’ we had recognition from Government and is our direction for the next five years. Josh Berger. Josh has been on the BFI sure that film, television and all the arts over 8.5 million views across all channels, being solidly supported by the industry During the first three months of 2016 Board for the last five years, and so of the Moving Image are central to all including online. Having established the as an important agent for change to we have been evaluating and reviewing brings a winning combination of wider our cultural and creative lives. size of the public appetite to see and make opportunity available where it learnings from Film Forever, taking early industry knowledge and an experienced enjoy their own moving history, we hasn’t always existed before. During the soundings from the industry. It is clear understanding of the BFI. With Josh’s This Report is ample proof that it has are excited about the next instalment, year there was a particular emphasis on from these initial discussions that the proven energy and commitment we been a very exciting year for the BFI, ‘Rural Britain’, to be launched next year. gender and the BFI London Film Festival, strategic priorities captured in Film will be able to sustain the momentum packed with a richness of cultural for instance, opened with the female-led Forever remain the right ones and that established under Greg’s great leadership, programmes and creative opportunities The BFI Film Academy, which operates Suffragette and, for the first time ever we should build on them going forward. and push ahead with our ambitious which we and our partners have in every corner of the UK seeking out outside the US, hosted the Geena Davis However, there is recognition that times plans for the future. delivered for everyone across the UK, those young people aged 16-19 who are Institute’s Global Symposium on Gender have changed since the publication of wherever you live, whatever your age. thinking of a career in the industry, in Media. Looking at the year overall, Film Forever and there are new challenges JOSH BERGER CBE was financially supported for a third 50% of films backed by the BFI were and opportunities for our screen industries CHAIR, BOARD OF GOVERNORS Education is the foundation stone, year by the Department for Education. produced by women and over 30% had and culture. A number of key themes AMANDA NEVILL CBE and this year we led a panel of experts The initiative, with its focus on creating a female director.