Vue CEO Tim Richards appointed new chair of the BFI

Tim Richards has been appointed as the next Chair of the BFI and will serve a term of up to three years.

Since Richards founded Vue International in 1999, the cinema operator has expanded to 225 multiplex cinemas across Europe and Taiwan attracting over 100 million customers a year to screenings. He joined the BFI as a Governor in 2013 and has held positions on many industry boards since 2007.

Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary, said: “The BFI showcases the great creativity and innovation of the UK’s hugely successful screen sectors, which are already bouncing back strongly. I know Tim will be a brilliant champion for the industry and his extensive experience will help ensure the BFI plays an important role in our cultural and economic recovery.”

Tim Richards, BFI Chair Designate, said: “I am honoured and thrilled to have been asked to chair the BFI, especially at such a crucial time for the arts and cultural sector. British film and television have always had a unique power to inspire people globally and I am confident that Britain’s talent and creativity will help lead the screen industries to a great future.”

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive, said: “It’s great news that Tim Richards will be the BFI’s new Chair. Having been on the BFI Board for 7 years, Tim is already under the skin of our organisation, and has been an incredible supporter and champion of the work we do across film culture. His experience and knowledge of the business of film, particularly across exhibition but also across skills and education, will be enormously valuable to the BFI and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him as he steers us into our next exciting chapter.”

The appointment process for the BFI chair is made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Code for Public Appointments and is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ (OCPAs). Official figures recently released by the BFI revealed strong signs of economic recovery in UK film and high-end TV production, including a £1.19 billion upturn in production spend for film and high-end TV in the last three months of 2020. Restarting film and TV activity has been made possible by the Government’s £500 million Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, which has already supported more than 170 productions across the UK.

The BFI has also awarded more than £16 million in grant support to over 200 independent cinemas from the Culture Recovery Fund on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. More grant applications from independent cinemas are also currently being assessed. At the start of the year, cinemas were able to apply for another £14 million in grants as part of the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund. The new round of funding is in addition to the £30 million already being allocated by the BFI.