Leslie Hardcastle dies: The British industry veteran and former BFI controller was 96

British film veteran Leslie Hardcastle, former director of the British Film Institute’s National Film Theatre, has died. He turned 96.

Hardcastle was born in 1926 in Croydon, South London. Born into a family of artists, he spent time producing films for British Lion Films before serving in the Navy.

After leaving the Navy, Hardcastle began working for the BFI, initially responsible for acquiring film supplies for the BFI’s National Film Theater on London’s Southbank. Hardcastle spearheaded NFT’s activities for many years, including during the founding of the London Film Festival and the construction of NFT2, the BFI’s second operational screen, alongside a new restaurant. He was in office from 1957 until the 1990s.

Hardcastle was also instrumental in founding the Museum of the Moving Image in London. The museum on London’s Southbank, not far from the BFI, is dedicated to the history of film and film technology. The site was opened by Prince Charles in September 1988, but temporarily closed in 1999 before finally closing in 2002.

After his retirement in the 1990s, Hardcastle continued to work as an adviser to the BFI. He later received an OBE for services to film, was named a Fellow of the BFI, and received a BAFTA for Lifetime Achievement in 1989.

Commenting on the news this afternoon, Robin Baker, chief curator at the British Film Institute, tweeted: “Sad to hear of the passing of Leslie Hardcastle. He was a man of many hats and played a key role in the history of @BFI. He ran the NFT (BFI Southbank); launched the London Film Festival and NFT2 and designed the Museum of the Moving Image. Remarkable! Photo saved by #BFINationalArchive.

Outside the cinema, Hardcastle was involved in numerous social organizations and clubs. He was a founder member of the Soho Housing Association in central London and Honorary President of the Soho Society, a community association of the London Borough of Soho.