Michael Blyth is stepping down as senior programmer for BFI’s London Film Festival and its LGBTQ+ festival Flare.
Blyth, who has been involved with the festivals for 17 years, will leave the role following the closing of Flare’s 2023 edition which wraps tomorrow (March 25).
In a statement (see below in full), Blyth said he was leaving to “embark on new projects”.
Having begun his time with BFI’s festivals back in 2006 as an intern, Blyth worked his way up to senior programmer at Flare in 2016 and London Film Festival in 2020.
He was involved with Flare’s name change from London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (LLGFF) in 2014 as well as reshaping the festival’s current format of three strands – Hearts, Minds and Bodies.
With London Film Festival, Blyth helped incorporate the Cult strand which focuses on the horror genre as well as more regular programming of horror at BFI Southbank including the monthly Cult strand, later renamed Terror Vision, and seasons on Stephen King and John Carpenter.
Blyth’s full statement read: “Back in 2006, on my first day of a six week intern position on the (formally named) London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, I had no idea that it would in fact be 17 years before I would leave the BFI. In that time I have seen both the London Film Festival and BFI Flare London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival expand in both scope and recognition, and have felt very fortunate to play a part in that evolution.
”As I embark on new projects, I am excited to see what is next for BFI Festivals under the new leadership of Kristy Matheson, and perhaps most of all, look forward to returning to the LFF and BFI Flare as an audience member.”
Kristy Matheson, the former creative director at Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), was appointed festivals director at the BFI earlier this month. She replaces Tricia Tuttle, who is now acting head of department, directing fiction at the NFTS.
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