BFI Unveils Ambitious 10-Year Plan for UK Screen Culture, Including Video Game Preservation

The British Film Institute has recently unveiled its comprehensive Screen Culture 2033 strategy, outlining a decade-long roadmap to bolster the UK's screen industries, with a notable focus on video games. The strategy encompasses several key objectives, including the establishment of a screen archive, the promotion of screen culture in educational institutions to foster a skilled workforce, and the advocacy of screen culture in all its forms, including video games and interactive media. A spokesperson for the BFI has confirmed that video games constitute one of the six core pillars of this 10-year plan. Over the next three years, the BFI will allocate £135 million of National Lottery funding, with £45 million dedicated to each year. This investment will prioritize areas such as education, audience development, innovation, and the promotion of UK screen output abroad. Although the initial three-year phase will not directly fund video game development, games companies may still benefit from other investments. A significant portion of the funding, £10 million, will be dedicated to screen heritage projects, which are expected to include video game preservation initiatives. The work undertaken during these first three years will inform policy decisions and funding plans up to 2033. The BFI's strategy acknowledges the unprecedented growth of the screen sector, including video games, immersive, and interactive media, and recognizes the opportunities these present for employment and industrial development. The four key objectives of the National Lottery funding strategy include experiencing screen culture, fostering creativity and storytelling, developing a skilled and diverse workforce, and supporting independent and cultural organizations. Video games and extended reality will play a significant role in the skills and education plans, aiming to enhance the UK's workforce. The BFI will also conduct research to better understand the social, economic, and cultural value of video games, with the goal of benefiting the games industry. A recent consultation event with the video games sector has provided valuable insights, which will be integrated into the strategy moving forward.