The British Film Institute is a film and television charitable organisation, which provides funding to promote and preserve film making and television in the United Kingdom. The British Film Institute receive funds provided by The National Lottery to encourage film production, distribution and education and are also sponsored by the government. It was established to encourage the development in the art of film and television throughout the UK and to promote education about the film/television and the impact it has on society. It wanted to allow access to the wide range of British and world cinema and to care for and develop collections which reflected the history of film and television and the heritage of the UK.
The institute was founded in 1933 and was initially a private company, even though it received public money throughout its history. The institute was then reconstructed after the Radcliffe Report of 1948, which recommended that it should concentrate on developing the appreciation of film, rather than creating them. From 1952 to 2000, the BFI provided funding for new and experimental film makers. Now, the BFI supports creativity, cares for its National Archive, and works with the government to ensure the continued growth of the UK's screen industry. The British Film Institute has a close connection with The National Lottery, as it works with them to provide funding to upcoming filmmakers for the production of their films. It funds new, bold, and diverse UK films, and the talent that creates them and opportunities for audiences to enjoy them across the UK. They introduced the British Film Institute Lottery Fund, to fund a more diverse screen of film with people from different backgrounds. From 2023-2026 the fund will provide £7.6 million from the National Lottery in order to meet their aspirations and aims, to expand in inclusivity, audiences and representations in the film industry.
The British Film Insitute has produced many successful films and documentaries that are huge critical successes, but also big commercial successes. An example of a huge critical success for a BFI supported documentary is '"20,000 Days on Earth" directed by Ian Forsyth and Jane Pollard, who are British film makers and directors. The documentary was funded by The British Film Institute during 2013 as it wanted to support the creativity of new and upcoming film makers. The "20,000 Days on Earth" documentary was a huge critical success, as it generated a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for 'Best Documentary'. Another huge success for the BFI was a film called Vertigo (1958), which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This was a huge critical and commercial success for the BFI as critics scored the film 8.3 on IMDb and it generated $7.8 million in box office worldwide.
Film makers and production companies across the UK are able to apply for funding from the British Film Insitute to be able to execute their creative ideas. The British Film Institute has an application on their website and to be able to get funded, film makers must have interesting ideas that stand out. However, priority will be given to projects and filmmaking teams that demonstrate a bold vision and creative excellence, and that are unlikely to be fully financed by the marketplace. The British Film Insitute is massively important for the survival of the British film industry because it allows for upcoming film makers and directors to get a chance to put their name out there and grow the film industry in the UK. The British Film Insitute supports all film culture across the UK and wants to maximise the achievements of British film across the UK, but also internationally.
Comments