BFI to launch US streaming service in May

The British Film Institute (BFI) is set to launch its SVOD service for classic British cinema in the US next month.

BFI Player Classics will deliver a curated selection of British films to American audiences. It launches 14 May 2021, with a slate of more than 200 British or British co-production films picked by BFI experts.

The launch programme includes films from distributors BFI, Lionsgate and Studiocanal. BFI Player Classics includes landmark films by legendary names, the widely loved and the rarely seen. Brighton Rock (John Boulting, 1948) and The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949), staples of British cinema history, are available alongside British cult classics The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973), The Man Who Fell to Earth (Nicolas Roeg, 1976) and hard-to-find rarities such as Friendship’s Death (Peter Wollen, 1987) and Burning an Illusion (Menelik Shabazz, 1981).

“BFI Player Classics brings together a collection of British films—the cinematic DNA of the UK – that is essential for anyone who wants to see and understand the best of British film,” said Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive. “Alongside well-known classics, the Oscar winners and the box office hits are many real discoveries. The collection is also an insider’s guide to the places and cultures of the U.K. across the last 100 years – from the famous Ealing comedies to the infamous Carry-On films, to Britain’s delight in its home-grown horror films.”

Edward Humphrey, director of digital at the BFI concluded: “We’re very excited to bring BFI Player Classics to audiences in the US. The BFI brand is already well-known to discerning American film lovers through our home entertainment releases, Sight & Sound magazine and web publishing. With the launch of BFI Player Classics, those brand values of expert curation, high quality programming and rich contextualisation can now be enjoyed through a distinctively British streaming service.”