The British Film Institute looks after one of the world’s largest and most important collections of film and TV, ranging from The Derby (1895) to The King's Speech (2010). Head curator Robin Baker will discuss the extraordinary diversity of the collection; how it is being preserved for future generations to enjoy and the ways in which the BFI is making the collection accessible. He will also provide a sneak preview of the BFI's restoration work currently being undertaken on Alfred Hitchcock's 9 surviving silent films and soon to be launched as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Guest: Robin Baker (Head Curator at the BFI National Archive)

Robin Baker, Head Curator at the BFI Archive, has worked in film exhibition, distribution, marketing and archiving for 20 years. He has worked extensively as a film programmer, including as co-director of the London Children's Film Festival and the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. In 2001 he was part of the team that established the Independent Cinema Office, and in 2005 he joined to BFI to oversee the curation of the BFI Mediatheques. His recent research includes work on the BFI's extensive collection of non-fiction films shot in pre-Independence India. He has written and directed two short films and his radio play Elephant and Castle was broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

The BFI is the UK's lead film organisation. In its mission to achieve a creative and prosperous film culture and industry base, the BFI drives creative, economic, and cultural success through a linked portfolio of activities. Its diverse public programme presents over a thousand films a year across BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX and the BFI London film festivals. As the biggest distributor of cultural cinema in the UK, it supplies film to over 600 venues across the whole of the UK, and over 2,000 hours of material are available for free online. The BFI cares for the world's most significant film and television collections in the BFI National Archive, its vibrant DVD label releases around 50 titles a year, and its publications include Sight & Sound magazine. The BFI works through key partnerships. As the Lottery distributor for film, the BFI provides funding for film development, production, distribution and training; and in education through Skillset and First Light. It also has strategic partnerships for film across the devolved nations and funding in the English regions; responsibility for UK film certification, which is the gateway to the UK film tax credit; and MEDIA Desk UK. In supporting Film London and the British Film Commission, the BFI also takes on promoting British film and talent internationally.

UK Now is the largest ever festival of British arts and creative industries to take place in China. Coinciding with the London Olympics and the 40th anniversary of China-UK Ambassadorial relations, the Festival will bring British and Chinese arts institutions, artists and art lovers closer together. In collaboration with British Council, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) will present a series of art experience events in music, architecture, design, visual art, dance, literature and film.