The BFI looks after one of the largest and most important collections of film and television in the world. Its teams of experts ensure that the collection is preserved and developed for future generations and made widely accessible to today’s audiences. The BFI was established in 1934, as the National Film Library (NFL) to 'maintain a national raspatory of films of permanent value.' The British Film Institute is the lead organization for film in the UK and use Lottery funds to support film production, distribution, education and audience development. Since 1933 they’ve cared for the BFI National Archive, and celebrated the best of British and international filmmaking through festivals, film restoration, DVD releases and cinema programming.
They have worked with the Government in the past to ensure that the film industry thrives by funding and investing in projects, investing over £26 million per year to support film development, production (including minority and majority Co-productions) and distribution activity in the United Kingdom.
They have produced films such as Rocks, Misbehavior, The Last Tree and the 2014 Science fiction film starring Scarlett Johansson, Under The Skin. it was named the best film of the year by various critics and publications, was included in many best-of-the-decade lists, and was ranked 61st on the BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century list. It is considered a box office failure however, having grossed just over $7 million on a budget of $13.3 million.
The BFI set diversity rules for access to lottery funding, Films applying for money from British state backer must sign up to new policies on minorities and the socially disadvantaged this obligates and supports Lottery funding recipients to reflect diversity in the UK, They introduced ‘three ticks’ to ensure film productions represent UK diversity, incentivizing producers to set exemplary diversity practice across their production. This also ensures that the BFI and the Lottery keep a strong relationship by putting orders in place to support the people who effectively pay for the films by buying lottery tickets are all represented in the movies.
The BFI Production Fund awards money from the National Lottery to support original live action, emerging media and animation feature filmmaking from storytellers demonstrating a bold vision and creative excellence. Applications for funding are accepted all year round. They aim to let applicants know the outcome of their application within 8 weeks, applications must be made by the lead producer who is producing a project between £250,000 and £15,000,000. They prioritize work that is made by filmmakers in the early stages of their careers, has cultural relevance or progressive ideas, takes risks in form and content, recognizes the quality of differences in perspective and talent and recruitment originated by filmmakers outside London and South East England. along with a completed application form you need to provide them with the script, an overall timeline for the project to include prep, shoot, post (with at least 10-12 weeks edit) and a delivery date, an industry standard production budget, an industry standard production schedule and a proposed finance plan that matches the budget.
I believe the BFI are very important but not vital to the survival of the British industry, as they are very useful for big projects from 'small people' but if they were not to be around there are still many big names in the UK film industry that could probably keep it going. but what is most important about the BFI is that they looks after one of the largest and most important collections of film and television in the world this means these movies and media will not be lost to time and they can still be seen, heard and enjoyed by viewers.
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