Duncan Kenworthy OBE has donated $1 million to the National Film and Television School (NFTS) for its new teaching building.

The British film and television producer and co-founder of the production company DNA Films, has had huge success with films such as Love Actually, Notting Hill and Three Weddings And A Funeral. His donation comes at a challenging time for the NFTS, as some of its broadcaster-funders have cut their support.

The building, at the NFTS in Buckinghamshire, will be opened on June 11 by a group of British film directors including Terence Davies, Stephen Frears, Sir Alan Parker CBE and Mike Figgis.

At Kenworthy’s request, the building will be named after 93-year-old British cinematographer Oswald Morris OBE. Morris started in the industry in 1932 as an unpaid sixteen year old clapper boy for director Michael Powell, and went on to become an Academy Award- winning cinematographer.

The Chairman of the School, Michael Kuhn, said: “This magnificent one-off donation coincides with us urgently seeking to establish a more sustainable funding model with the government.  The government has singled out the creative industries as a key source of future economic growth for the UK, and I know our award-winning students can deliver this if we follow Duncan’s fantastic example and invest in the next generation of filmmakers.”

Kenworthy added:  “The NFTS is a key part of the British film and television industry, and on behalf of the British public it’s up to every sector - industry, broadcasters, educators, government – to make sure the funds and facilities are there for these moving image stars of the future to learn their craft”.

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