Former Bond producer joins the board of BFI America as the British Film Institute expands its presence in the United States.
Yesterday it was announced that Barbara Broccoli has been appointed to the board of BFI America, the new US branch of the British Film Institute. The move is part of a wider expansion of the BFI’s international presence and coincides with the 90th anniversary of the BFI National Archive.
The announcement, timed to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the BFI National Archive, brings with it a sense of occasion. Broccoli is joined by a mix of cultural heavyweights and financial figures: Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, Deborah Schindler, Dr Mali Heled Kinberg, Colin Walsh, and Penelope Wong. Together, they form the inaugural board of an initiative that hopes to deepen transatlantic ties in film preservation and promotion.
The rebranded BFI America replaces what was formerly known as Friends of the British Film Institute. Now it carries a clearer mandate: to support the BFI’s mission from within the United States, raising its profile and ensuring its vast archives are not just protected, but appreciated.
That archive is worth protecting. Housing over 25,000 American film and television works — from nitrate silent films to contemporary digital features — the BFI’s collection is a vital resource for anyone who believes in film as an art form and cultural artefact. For Bond fans, whose appreciation of cinema often starts with gun barrels and Aston Martins but expands to the craft and context behind the screen, this matters.
To celebrate the launch and the archive’s milestone, a reception will be held on 23rd April at the British Residence in Los Angeles. And the festivities don’t stop there: six films from the BFI archive will screen at the TCM Classic Film Festival, including Jaws, The Private Life of Henry VIII, and Blithe Spirit. Meanwhile, Guillermo Del Toro — himself no stranger to gothic flair and cinematic preservation — will present “From Across the Pond: Sights & Sounds of the British Film Institute” at the Roosevelt Hotel.
BFI America will use its new platform to expand outreach and fundraising efforts, while also increasing awareness of British cinema and heritage on the US stage.
Source: The Wrap
