The BFI has unveiled “Screen Culture 2033”, a 10-year strategy based on a fresh vision for benefiting film, TV and other audiences and industries during its historic 2033 centenary, including broadening its focus of the organization to “stand up for the value of the full breadth of screen culture, including video games and interactive work”, and advocating for screen culture in school curricula.
The charity has also worked out a three-year financing plan of £136 million ($154.2 million).
“Although the first moving images were created more than 100 years ago, screen culture remains young, dynamic and growing,” the BFI said. “Today, it presents a broader screen landscape that includes film, television, digital media, extended reality (XR) and video games. It has become the dominant means of communication, information and storytelling for Gen Z and beyond.”
It added: “As an industry, the UK screen sector is also a large and fast-growing employer with a huge range of skills to produce and distribute vibrant forms of entertainment for the UK and UK. International public, which is a major contributor to the UK economy. Since the publication of the BFI 2022 strategy in 2017, the screen industries in the UK have more than doubled in size. Spending on film and high-end television production in the UK alone soared last year (from £3.4bn in 2017) to £5.6bn ($6.4bn) and is expected to reach £6.4bn by 2025. 7.3 billion ($8.3 billion).”
BFI chairman Tim Richards and CEO Ben Roberts unveiled the new strategy and financing plans on Friday. “This new vision describes how the UK’s leading film and moving image organization will transform access to its unique and valuable collections, cultural and educational programmes, and use policy and research work, alongside a new BFI National Lottery Strategy and Funding Plan, to deliver a Build a diverse and accessible screen culture that benefits all of society and contributes to a prosperous UK economy.
Screen Culture 2033 lists six major ambitions for the SFI. They are: transforming the relationship with the public in the UK and becoming known as “an open house for all to the discovery of storytelling on screen;” advocating the value of the full breadth of screen culture, including games and interactive work; creating “a screen archive of the future that is the most open in the world;” “digital-first in delivering cultural programming through BFI+”, the organization’s streaming service, and expanding reach and access for all; championing fencing culture in school curricula and building “a skilled and sustainable workforce that reflects the UK population;” and addressing where the sector needs support, through the SFI’s National Lottery funding, policy work and evidence, in delivering public benefits.
“To achieve all this, the SFI will work to become more financially resilient in its approach, building on its charitable and commercial revenues,” the organization said.
The new financing plan for the National Lottery will start in April 2023 and will cover the first three years of the strategy. “Subsequent funding plans will enable the SFI to respond to a dynamic and fast-growing industry and adapt funds and programs as the screen culture evolves,” it said.
With a focus on the goals set out in Screen Culture 2033, the BFI’s National Lottery Strategy for its first three years, starting in 2023, will see the organization generate approximately £45 million ($51.4 million) per year. UK National Lottery funding invests, some set aside for ‘charity’. The BFi’s priorities here include £54.0 million ($61.3 million) for filmmakers, £34.2 million ($38.8 million) for education and skills, £27.6 million ($31.3 million) ) for audience development, £10.0 million ($11.4 million) for “screen heritage work”, £7.3 million ($8.3 million) for “innovation and industrial services”, as well as £3.2 million ( $3.6 million) for international operations.
“We are already generating self-earned income, receiving generous support from donors and through philanthropy and government grants,” said Roberts. THR. “However, to realize our vision to support the growth and development of the screen culture and industry, we need to grow the income we generate ourselves.” He adds: “The industry and government buy-in has been critical in how we have been able to actively support the industry as it navigates a recovery path from the pandemic. Their buy-in will also be critical to how the BFI can support the newer areas of screen culture and where it makes sense for us to take a more active role, for example advocating for the cultural and social role of video in society.”
Roberts also emphasizes: “We have set ourselves an income growth rate of 10 percent for the next three years, which requires us to develop a more commercial mindset, be more entrepreneurial, expand and form new partnerships. Bringing the BFI Imax (cinema) back to our offering can be seen as a step in that direction, as we aim to diversify our audience and bring people to us while experiencing their screen culture.”
The BFI also stressed on Friday that the core of Screen Culture 2033 and the National Lottery Strategy are three core principles that guide it: equality, diversity and inclusion; a UK-wide focus; and environmental sustainability.