Leslie Hardcastle OBE (born 8 December 1926) was controller of the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

's (BFI)

National Film Theatre BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the UK, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Institute. His ...

(NFT) complex on

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

South Bank The South Bank is an entertainment and commercial district in central London, next to the River Thames opposite the City of Westminster. It forms a narrow strip of riverside land within the London Borough of Lambeth (where it adjoins Alber ...

from its early beginnings through to his retirement in the mid 1990s. Hardcastle was born in Croydon. After service in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

, he worked his way through the ranks of the BFI and led the NFT through its pioneering days including the founding of the

London Film Festival The BFI London Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 1957 and held in the United Kingdom, running for two weeks in October with co-operation from the British Film Institute. It screens more than 300 films, documentaries and shor ...

(LFF) in 1957, the setting up of NFT2 and the clubroom and restaurant. His annual controller's lunch at LFF was a highlight of the festival. In the 1980s, Hardcastle conceived and led the development of the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) also on the

. The museum opened in 1988 and received numerous awards. He was awarded an OBE for service to film, is a Fellow of the BFI, and an Honorary Fellow of the BKSTS and received a BAFTA for the creation of MOMI. After retiring as controller of the South Bank complex (NFT and MOMI), he was retained as curator to MOMI, instigating many innovative temporary exhibitions and overlaid the original museum with "The Little People's Exhibition" – a linear display for very small children. MOMI closed to the public in 1999. Having retired completely from the

BFI Southbank BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the UK, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Institute. His ...

, Hardcastle became a consultant and eventually a governor of the British Film Institute. He also remains active in film related projects, including The Projected Picture Trust, Worthing Dome and Regeneration Trust and

Uckfield Uckfield () is a town in the Wealden District of East Sussex in South East England. The town is on the River Uck, one of the tributaries of the River Ouse, on the southern edge of the Weald. Etymology 'Uckfield', first recorded in writing as ...

Film Society. He was awarded the Charles Roebuck Cup for outstanding individual contribution to the film society movement in 2007. Living in

Soho Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was deve ...

for most of his life, Hardcastle is a board and founder member of the Soho Housing Association which provides social housing in central London. He is also a vice president of

The Soho Society The Soho Society is a community association for the London district of Soho. It was founded in 1970 by local residents such as Bryan Burroughs and had over 1000 members. It campaigned against the domination of the area by sex shops and was suc ...

. He is married with two sons and three grandchildren.

References

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interview British Entertainment History Project including BFI & NFT {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardcastle, Leslie 1926 births Royal Navy sailors Officers of the Order of the British Empire Possibly living people Arts administrators