We are thrilled to announce our creative partnership with the BFI (British Film Institute). Led by Professor Santiago Fouz Hernández and Professor Jonathan Long, students will have the unique opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain access to landmark independent films on the BFI Player streaming service. Students on our Visual Arts programmes will also get the much sought-after chance to gain industry placements.
“An understanding and appreciation of the moving image continues to grow in importance, with visual storytelling a powerful engine of change, education and shared understanding. We are delighted to support students across Durham University to engage directly with the cultural and practical aspects of filmmaking, embedding the role and value of film and film-making across the student experience.” Simone Pyne, Senior Business Development Manager, BFI.
Speaking about the partnership, Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities said. “We are excited to be entering a high-level partnership with the BFI. Access to BFI Player opens up wonderful opportunities for students to engage with film, as part of their formal programme of study and as part of the wider student experience that we offer. Working with the BFI on key projects will allow us to enhance the quality of our education and research in the field of visual and film studies, to develop students’ employability within the cultural sector, and to offer workplace experience with a vibrant, world-class organisation.”
The BFI is the UK’s leading organisation for film and the moving image and is home to the world’s largest film and television archive. As part of the collaboration, students and staff have gained access to BFI Player – a streaming service showing critically acclaimed classic, cult and archive films available for research purposes, and to enjoy at leisure. Students and staff can search collections including LGBTQIA+, visionary directors and black stories. They can also access over 12,000 archive titles that cover all aspects of British life over the last 120 years. Find out more below.
To mark the start of our partnership, the end of January saw the launch of a Film and TV Careers Week, with virtual talks with industry professionals on development, commissioning, screenwriting, producing, funding, the life of an agent, film programming, marketing and press and PR.
With our own rich and diverse culture within the university, this announcement builds on our commitment to culture as a Principal Partner in Durham’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid.
Access the BFI player
Centre for Visual Arts
BFI Player Educational access and subscriptions
What it’s like studying visual culture at Durham
Durham City of Culture
Studying with the School of Modern Languages and Culture at Durham
BFI Careers Week
*Accessible from within the UK
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