James Quinn (BFI Director)
Encyclopedia
James Quinn was a film administrator, producer and exhibitor.
He was best known as one of the longest-serving Directors of the British Film Institute
(1955-1964). Under his leadership, the BFI inaugurated the new National Film Theatre under Waterloo Bridge in London
(1957), launched the London Film Festival
(1957), added television to its official remit, and initiated the regional expansion of the BFI.
In 1961 he was head of the jury at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival
.
After his departure from the BFI, he acquired the Paris Pullman cinema in collaboration with independent distributor Charles Cooper (1967). In the 1970s he also ran the Minema cinema, still in London. He also produced two feature films: Don Levy's Herostratus
(1967), and Stuart Cooper's Overlord
(1975).
He was best known as one of the longest-serving Directors of the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
(1955-1964). Under his leadership, the BFI inaugurated the new National Film Theatre under Waterloo Bridge in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1957), launched the London Film Festival
London Film Festival
The BFI London Film Festival is the UK's largest public film event, screening more than 300 features, documentaries and shorts from almost 50 countries. The festival, , currently in its 54th year, is run every year in the second half of October under the umbrella of the British Film Institute...
(1957), added television to its official remit, and initiated the regional expansion of the BFI.
In 1961 he was head of the jury at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival
11th Berlin International Film Festival
The 11th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 23 to July 4, 1961.-Jury:* James Quinn * France Roche* Marc Turfkruyer* Satyajit Ray* Gian Luigi Rondi* Hirosugu Ozaki* Nicholas Ray* Falk Harnack* Hans Schaarwächter...
.
After his departure from the BFI, he acquired the Paris Pullman cinema in collaboration with independent distributor Charles Cooper (1967). In the 1970s he also ran the Minema cinema, still in London. He also produced two feature films: Don Levy's Herostratus
Herostratus (film)
Herostratus is a 1967 film made in London by the Australian director Don Levy, about a young man who wants to commit suicide in public by jumping off a tall building. The title comes from the name of the Ancient Greek man Herostratus, who sought to immortalize his name by setting fire to the Temple...
(1967), and Stuart Cooper's Overlord
Overlord (film)
Overlord is a 1975 black-and-white film written and directed by Stuart Cooper. Set around the D-Day invasion , Overlord is a war film about a young soldier's meditations on being part of the war machinery, and his premonitions of death...
(1975).