Daniel Cormack

Biographical Summary

Daniel Cormack was born in Lewisham, south east London and was educated at Thomas Tallis Comprehensive School and then at Oxford University where he was awarded an Academic Scholarship to read English.

After graduating in 2002 he worked in the National Film Theatre box office for the BFI London Film Festival and then at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill.

In 2004, he established Actaeon Films to produce feature-length theatrical motion pictures. Amelia and Michael (2007) starring Anthony Head won the Tiscali Short Film Award and subsequent films have screened at major international festivals including Edinburgh, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Raindance, Montreal and Warsaw and have received acclaim in publications such as Hotdog and Time Out. Daniel's films were recently the subject of a 'Director's Showcase' at the BFI Southbank for the X'08 International Disability Film Festival. He has also designed and led courses on filmmaking for teenagers working with organizations such as CCC Media in Hammersmith.

Daniel is currently a director and producer of films and television. He is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the New Producers' Alliance and is a Committee Member of the Writers', Producers' and Directors' Branch of the union BECTU.

Supporting Statement

"I have direct experience of a wide range of the workings of the BFI; as a former employee of the box office; as a Member of the library and the cinema; as a filmmaker whose work has screened at the new BFI Southbank; as a donor to the National Film Archive; and, primarily, as a cineaste who cherishes the opportunities the BFI provides to learn about and watch films and one who believes passionately in preserving and developing these opportunities.

"My first experiences of the BFI were childhood visits to the Museum of the Moving Image and if I have one distinctive quality in relation to the other candidates it's likely to be that I'm of a younger generation. There's no doubt that the BFI needs to continue to attract new members and young people and in spite of some excellent education events and the buzz created around the new BFI Southbank, the loss of MOMI has still left a huge gap in the BFI's provision. Indeed, the BFI's website directs parents to other institutions such as the Science Museum, the Tate Modern and the London Eye as alternatives since the closure of MOMI. Whatever developments take place with the proposed National Film Centre, it's crucial that the Governors ensure that the BFI's flagship building once again becomes a must-see destination for children and parents as, for many, these early experiences will be a gateway to lifelong visits.

"The BFI is the custodian of one of the world's great film archives and whatever activities and changes take place in what is likely to be a key point in the Institute's history, its duty to preserve this heritage must not be compromised. Indeed, the admission in the BFI's annual report that 30% of the acetate film collection is actively decaying means urgent action is needed and the Governors must ensure that the right preservation decisions are made for the long term future of the archive and not just stop gap solutions.

"The BFI is at a crucial point and whilst there's no doubt that it needs to keep pace with the times with innovations such as the BFI Online and the Mediatheque, these ongoing developments must not be achieved by sacrificing, for example, the theatrical programming or access to the library. Indeed, the BFI is currently in a vulnerable position and the role of Member Governor will be an important one in ensuring that the BFI is protected from decisions that will harm its status of excellence that has been so carefully built up over the years. I am not an establishment figure, but someone who is, like you, passionate about preserving and enhancing what we already know and love about the BFI and as a Member Governor I will work and fight for the interests of the Members on the Board. "