BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007 known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the United Kingdom, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films and is operated by the British Film Institute.
Today, BFI Southbank is sited below the southern end of Waterloo Bridge, forming part of the cultural complex on the south bank of the River Thames in Lambeth, Surrey. The site comprises three cinemas and studio space, as well as cafés and exhibition space. It also has a large bar area in the foyer where smaller performances are sometimes held.
History
National Film Theatre
The National Film Theatre was initially opened in a temporary building (the Telekinema) at the Festival of Britain in 1951 and moved to its present location in 1957, replacing the Thameside restaurant on the site. Subsequently, Southbank Centre expanded its buildings to meet the National Film Theatre from the south, while the Royal National Theatre now occupies the area to the north-east.
Museum of the Moving Image
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The Museum of the Moving Image (known as 'MOMI') was opened by the British Film Institute on the South Bank in 1988. It was opened on 15 September 1988 by Prince Charles. The museum thus joined the cultural complex on the South Bank.
Interpretation was done through graphics, interactive exhibits, recreated environments, models, six 35 mm film projections using endless loop platters, two 16 mm film projections, two 70 mm projectors, and over 70 LaserDisc players for video playback. There was also a group of six actors dressed in period costume (for example a Victorian magic lanternist and a Hollywood director).
Prior to opening, the Museum bought Marilyn Monroe's black dress from Some Like it Hot, for £19,800. The event featured on the front pages of many newspapers.
Galleries in the museum included Tricking the Eye, Shadow puppets, Early optical device, The Phantasmagoria, Optical toys, Photography, Magic lanterns, Projection, Persistence of vision, The arrival of Cinema (Lumiere Brothers), Early Technical advances, British Pioneers including Birt Acres, Méliès, The early cinemas, First World War, The formation of Hollywood, The Temple to the Gods of the Silent Cinema, Charlie Chaplin, The Russian Agit prop Train, Experimental Film, German Expressionism, The coming of sound film, Censorship, Newsreel, The Documentary Movement, Cinema of France, Animation, The Hollywood Studio System, The Great days of cinema going in Britain including Odeon Cinemas, British film, the Second World War, Cinema architecture, The arrival of television, Expansion of television, Cinema fights television, World Cinema, Television heritage, Television today, a Doctor Who exhibit that was used in several documentaries about the early years of the show, plus a temporary exhibition area. A series of temporary exhibitions were held also.
MOMI was closed temporarily in 1999, with the closure becoming permanent soon after.[1] The site reopened as BFI Southbank on 14 March 2007.
BFI Southbank
On 14 March 2007, the National Film Theatre was relaunched as 'BFI Southbank', considerably enlarged premises by taking over the building of the closed Museum of the Moving Image, which provided a new entrance to the complex.
In addition to the existing three cinemas showcasing the best historical and contemporary film from around the world, the BFI Southbank site has a gallery, a mediatheque of British film and television, and a bookshop within an active programme that includes the annual London Film Festival.
Although there was talk that Bradford's National Media Museum planned to open a London venue, London still has no publicly funded film museum.
In addition to the three pre-existing auditoria, the complex now includes a studio, a médiathèque, gallery space, a shop, and a bar and restaurant.
Outside links
- Location map: 51°30’26"N, 0°6’57"W
- BFI Southbank
- "Under the Bridge of Films" (2007) Arts Hub UK - www.artshub.co.uk
- MOMI:
References
- ↑ Dismay at film museum 'tragedy', BBC News, 7 October 2002