Tonight:
4°c
Minghella launches new film centre
This is London13 Mar 2007
Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella is hosting a champagne reception tonight to launch the British Film Institute's new multi-million pound cultural centre.
The English Patient director will be joined by fellow directors Ken Russell and Alan Parker and actors Brian Cox, Juliet Stevenson and Jodhi May for the event to mark the opening of BFI Southbank in London.
The old National Film Theatre has been given a £6 million refurbishment, transforming it into the new development which includes cinemas, public access to the BFI national archive, a gallery and "filmstore" shop.
The gallery will showcase leading UK and international artists' work using moving images and multi-media, while the Mediatheque facility will allow visitors to watch hundreds of hours of film and TV moments from the institute's archive.
An early screen test by actress Audrey Hepburn and a promotional film for the Royal National Institute for the Blind by a young Sean Connery are among the treasures people will be able to access digitally at the new development.
BFI Southbank will also provide talks, presentations and adult learners courses, along with hands-on workshops and family drop-in sessions. The new centre will be open to the public from tomorrow.
