NFT appeal for donations to fund refurbishment

As part of the National Film Theatre's (NFT) 50th anniversary celebrations the British Film Institute (bfi) have undertaken a major programme of improvements to the NFT building on the South Bank, with initial works currently ongoing.
The renewal programme started with an overhaul to the fabric of the interior of the NFT and its public spaces, including new seating in cinemas, new toilet facilities and an improved Café. The building will stay open with as little disruption as possible over the coming months, but is closed completely until September 24.
As plans for a new bfi Film Centre have progressed the shortcomings of the present building have become obvious. The British Film Institute is committed to the bfi Film Centre project, but this new development has been subject to delays that mean it will open in autumn 2007 at the earliest. In the interim the NFT wish to preserve the vision of a state-of-the-art cinema on the South Bank, with a range of facilities that are in keeping with contemporary standards.
The NFT first opened for business in the Festival of Britain's former Telekinema in October 1952 and has been operating continuously ever since. The cost of the present building was funded mainly by NFT members and opened in October 1957 with the first ever London Film Festival. Public subscription also helped to build a second auditorium, NFT2, in 1970.
With the new bfi Film Centre still some years away, the NFT has appealed for donations.
A spokesperson for NFT said: "We want to replace the seats in our cinemas. We want to rip out the combination of 1950s pipes and Victorian plumbing which have been a recurring source of trouble, we want new toilets, a new Box Office and to improve the Film Café. We also need to keep pace with the demands for digital projection and electronic media, as well as imminent public legislation changes. When this initial work is complete we have plans to move the bfi National Library to the South Bank and install a major new research facility.
Think of it as going back to the original negative to make a new print of a classic."
For further information or to donate call 0845 1771608.
(GB)