BFI SVOD Service to Land in the U.S.

The British Film Institute (BFI) is set to launch its SVOD service for classic British cinema in the U.S. next month.

BFI Player Classics will deliver a curated selection of British films to American audiences. It launches May 14, 2021, with a slate of more than 200 British or British co-production films picked by BFI experts.

The offering will include films by the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell, Ken Russell and Ken Loach, among others. The lineup will include several titles that are currently not available on any other U.S. SVOD service, among them The Lion in Winter, I’m All Right Jack and Ice Cold in Alex.

“BFI Player Classics brings together a collection of British films—the cinematic DNA of the U.K.—that is essential for anyone who wants to see and understand the best of British film,” said Robin Baker, head curator at the BFI National Archive. “Alongside well-known classics, the Oscar winners and the box office hits are many real discoveries. The collection is also an insider’s guide to the places and cultures of the U.K. across the last 100 years—from the famous Ealing comedies to the infamous Carry-On films, to Britain’s delight in its home-grown horror films.”

The service is priced at $5.99 per month.