The British Film Institute has appointed HanWay films as its worldwide sales and marketing agent for its lucrative catalogue of more than 400 films.

The BFI collection is comprised of BFI Production Board films, works from the BFI National Archive and a number of additional features, shorts and documentaries for which the BFI has acquired international rights.

The BFI said it hoped HanWay could increase the international distribution of its catalogue. The BFI catalogue includes works by Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell, Jean Luc Godard, Stephen Frears, Lindsay Anderson, Ridley Scott, Peter Greenaway, Sally Potter, Terence Davies, Derek Jarman, Tony Scott, Ken Russell, Karel Reisz, John Boorman, Nick Broomfield, Gurinder Chadha, John Maybury, Shane Meadows and Lynne Ramsay.

HanWay's own library of titles includes works by Merchant Ivory, Bernardo Bertolucci, Terry Gilliam, Stephen Frears, David Cronenberg and other top directors.

'In response to market changes, such as a new proliferation in digital channels, we need to work with a powerful partner that is culturally in harmony with both the BFI and our library of films,' said BFI director Amanda Nevill. 'We have a firm commitment to making sure all the films in our sales catalogue are seen as widely as possible. HanWay's catalogue track record and international sales and marketing will help us reach a broader international market and will bring increased benefits to our rights owners.'

Tim Haslam CEO of HanWay added: The BFI is a magnificent resource for international broadcasters and distributors replete with unique collections of early works by internationally recognized filmmakers

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