Item in the Bookseller

The item below appeared in the Bookseller on 11 June:

BFI looks to sell imprint

The British Film Institute (BFI) has 'entered into discussions with a number of external partners to take over' its book publishing imprint. The move has prompted concern among film writers. In a letter in the Guardian, about 50 film writers and academics urged the institution to hold discussions about the move with its stakeholders.

'We understand this is in fact the first phase of a "realignment" of the BFI, which is being undertaken because the organisation is in financial straits and it says it is unable to commit the necessary investment to sustain the publishing operation. Phase two includes the relocation of the library and reading room, and might involve its temporary closure -- for a few years.

This looks like an attempt to steamroller through a badly conceived plan to solve a funding crisis caused by several factors, but essentially the result of handing responsibility for funding the BFI to the philistine and commercially oriented Film Council.'

BFI looks to sell imprint | theBookseller.com

Guardian Unlimited blog

A new blog dedicated to what's happening at the BFI is posted on the Film pages of the Guardian Unlimited today. To access, click here:

Times look bleak for the BFI | Film | guardian.co.uk

MeCCSA calls for public forum

MeCCSA has written to Amanda Nevill to ask for a public meeting on the crisis facing the BFI to be held as soon as possible. MeCCSA has offered to organise the event.

Amanda Nevill,
Director,
British Film Institute,
21 Stephen Street,
London W1T 1LN

13 June 2007


Dear Amanda Nevill,

MeCCSA is the representative body for university film and media scholars and teachers.

I write because we are concerned about the cumulative impact of the changes outlined in your open email of 30 May. As you are no doubt aware, there has been considerable concern expressed about developments separately concerning the library, the archive, education and publishing.

We are concerned that, taken together, these represent a major withdrawal of services and resources offered by the BFI to the research and teaching community.

Film and television scholars in the UK have a global reputation that is second to none. Our courses are highly sought after and recruit students from around the world. The BFI’s role as a provider of services has been crucial in establishing this reputation.

We are aware that some consultations have taken place about some of these developments. Others are new to us.

We are also aware that no opportunity has been offered for us to make effective representations to government and to the UK Film Council about the state of BFI financing and importance of these resources to film and television scholarship in the UK.

We therefore urgently request that a proper consultation takes place with the academic sector.

We further propose that this takes the form of a day event at which the current plight of the BFI is presented by senior staff to concerned academics, and is then debated both in plenary sessions and in specialist groups on particular issues.

Such is our concern about the developments announced in your letter that we are more than willing to organise this event and provide a venue for it.

Yours sincerely,

John Ellis
Vice-Chair for MeCCSA Executive

cc. Anthony Minghella, Roger Laughton

BFI Publishing list of FAQ

The BFI has circulated to authors a list of answers to FAQ about the plans for its Publishing division. Another FAQ (not addressed by the document) springs to mind: If the BFI breaks its contractual agreement to publish my book, does it have the right to decide who should publish it instead?

BFI Publishing FAQ
Q: Why is the BFI proposing to move its Publishing list from its direct management?

A: The BFI has received no increase in public funding for four years and must therefore find ways of cutting back on some of its activities to keep within its financial means. The BFI has decided that it must refocus its resources on core activities and find other ways for the work of certain departments to continue without financial risk to the BFI. Publishing is one of the activities that the BFI believes could be provided effectively by an external partner.

Q: Is the BFI planning to sell its Publishing list to the highest bidder?

A: No, the BFI is seeking a partnership with a third party whereby the BFI Publishing imprint will be retained and developed. Our priority is to ensure the best possible outcome for the list, past and present authors, and for the Publishing team.

Q: Won’t this mean that the integrity of the BFI list will be threatened?

A: No. The BFI will work with a publishing partner to ensure that BFI Publishing’s output responds appropriately to the BFI’s cultural programming and that the scholarly integrity and high production values of BFI books are maintained.

Q: What will happen to the BFI’s Education books and resources?

A: The BFI Education list is part of BFI Publishing and therefore is affected by these proposals in the same way as all other titles. The answers to all the questions here apply to all parts of the BFI Publishing catalogue.

Q: I have a contract with the BFI for a book that’s currently in production. Will it still be published?

A: Yes, work on all books currently in production is continuing and we will make every effort to ensure that publication dates are not affected by the proposed transfer of the list to another publisher. As soon as an agreement is reached we will be working with the publishing partner to ensure a smooth transfer of all work in progress.

Q: I have a contract with the BFI for a book that I’ve not yet completed. Will the contract be honoured by the new publisher?

A: Yes, as long as the manuscript is delivered by the agreed delivery date the contract will be honoured by the publishing partner. As soon as an agreement is reached we will be meeting with the publishing partner to brief them on all books under contract.

Q: I have a clause in my contract that specifies my consent must be obtained before the rights in my book are assigned to another publisher. Why hasn’t the BFI consulted me about its plans to transfer Publishing to a publishing partner?

A: The BFI must first consult with staff on a number of proposals, of which Publishing is one. If we reach agreement to move the list to a third party we will be writing to authors to let them know of our plans and to ask for their agreement to assign their publishing rights to the publishing partner.

Q: I’m the author of a BFI title that’s still in print. How will my book be affected by the transfer of the list?

A: Once an agreement has been reached in principle we will make arrangements for stock to be transferred from our distributors’ warehouses to those of the acquiring publisher. Once the transfer of stock has been completed the new publisher will begin marketing and selling backlist titles. They will also take over responsibility for royalty accounting. Reprints and new editions of backlist titles will be managed by the publishing partner as part of the new arrangement.

Q: I proposed a new book to the BFI but it was not commissioned because of the current uncertainty affecting BFI Publishing. What should I do?

A: Please wait until the transfer has been completed and then contact the commissioning editor for BFI Publishing. Details will be made available at www.bfi.org.uk Once a transfer has been agreed details of all proposals under consideration will be passed on to the acquiring publisher and these will then be followed up as appropriate.

Q: I would like to submit a new book proposal to the BFI. What should I do?

A: Please wait until the transfer has been completed and then address your proposal to the commissioning editor for BFI Publishing or for the book series in question, as appropriate.

Q: I am not a BFI author but I would still like to be kept informed about what happens to BFI Publishing. How can I find out the outcome of the current discussions?

A: Please check our website at www.bfi.org.uk for information about the BFI.

Q: What is the proposed timescale for the transfer of BFI Publishing to an external partner?

A: The internal consultation period ends on June 22nd. Assuming that the BFI decides to proceed with the proposal to move Publishing outside the BFI, an agreement in principle will be reached with an external partner, and contractual processes will follow. It is envisaged that the transfer would be completed within two to three months from the agreement in principle.

Q: Whom should I contact to find out more, or to discuss these proposals?

A: It’s only right that the BFI consults with its staff first. Only when that consultation has been completed will we be in a position to discuss the proposals outside the organisation. Any talks with third party publishers are confidential. We will contact authors and other partners as appropriate once agreement in principle has been reached, and further announcements will be made available in due course on our website at www.bfi.org.uk

Stephen Frears' comments at Cannes

The comments by Stephen Frears referred to in the Amicus letter were made in the context of Martin Scorsese's inauguration of the World Cinema Fund (WCF) at Cannes this year.

'The Queen director Frears, who is chairing the Cannes award jury this year, added his voice to [Scorsese's] call for the restoration of older films. He said the British Film Institute (BFI) need more money to help maintain its archive. "[It] is under-funded. It needs money. It's as simple as that. It's our lives, our culture. The government does not prioritise this highly
enough".'

For the full story, click here:

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Scorsese to rescue lost film gems