BFI Patron membership terms and conditions

These terms and conditions relate to any BFI Patron membership purchased or renewed on or after 1 April 2024.

1. Definitions

Patron membership means any of the BFI’s philanthropic membership packages which include the Classic Patron, Epic Patron, Director’s Cut Patron and BFI Auteurs Circle members.

BFI means the British Film Institute a registered charity (charity no. 287780), incorporated under Royal Charter, located at 21 Stephen Street, London, W1T 1LN (the “BFI”).

Terms means British Film Institute Patron Membership Terms and Conditions set out in this document.  

2. Benefits

2.1 As a Patron you are entitled to the benefits listed on the relevant Patron page of the BFI’s website, subject to availability of the benefits and these Terms. 

The minimum benefit value of each Patron level is: 

  • Classic Patron Membership: £740, with a suggested donation of £1,260
  • Epic Patron Membership: £1,345, with a suggested donation of £5,155
  • Director’s Cut Patron Membership: £2,830, with a suggested donation: £12,170
  • Auteurs Circle Membership: £3,330, with a suggested donation of £21,670

2.2 The BFI reserves the right to make changes to these Terms including to the Patron benefits. We may make minor changes to reflect any changes in relevant laws or to implement adjustments that will have no significant effect on your Patron benefits. 

For more significant changes we will notify you in advance and you may then contact us to cancel the membership before the changes take effect. 

If you choose to cancel the membership you will receive a refund for any benefits not received on a pro-rata basis. The donation portion of your membership (as set out on the relevant Patron page of the BFI’s website) will not be refunded.

2.3 The BFI reserves the right to change Patron fee amounts although any such change to fees will not come into effect until the expiry of your current subscription term.  

2.4 Patron membership does not guarantee access to tickets and ticket limits may apply. Priority booking applies to events selected by the BFI in its sole discretion.  

2.5 As a Patron, you will receive emails from the BFI about upcoming screenings, events, festivals and supporting the BFI. You may also receive brochures and selected communications by post. View details of our privacy policy. Change your contact preferences any time by contacting the Patrons team at patrons@bfi.org.uk.

2.6 Patron benefits are for the personal use of the Patron(s) only. Benefits, including priority booking, late access to tickets, events and invitations are not transferable. 

If the information available to us suggests that you have used your Patron benefits for commercial gain (e.g. reselling tickets purchased during priority booking periods) we may, at the BFI’s complete discretion, cancel your Patron membership without notice or refund.  

3. Patron Terms

3.1 Patron membership of the BFI is an annual patron membership and payment in full covers a period of 12 months from the month of purchase.  

3.2 You can renew or upgrade your Patron membership and update your details at any time by contacting the Patrons team on patrons@bfi.org.uk.  

3.4 Memberships are non-transferable.  

3.5 We may store encrypted credit card details for Patrons to enable you to make purchases more speedily. You can ask us to remove these details at any time. We will delete credit card details that have not been used for 13 months.   

4. Gift Aid

4.1 All Patron membership levels include a payment for benefits and a donation amount which is eligible for Gift Aid and can be included in self-assessment tax returns. The amount eligible for Gift Aid can be found on the relevant BFI Patron page.  

4.2 Patron memberships purchased as a gift for someone else are not eligible for Gift Aid and cannot be included in self-assessment tax returns.  

4.3 Gift Aid can only be claimed on the Patron membership donations when we have a valid Gift Aid declaration on file. You can make a declaration in writing, electronically or verbally to a member of the BFI (which we will confirm in writing).  

4.4 To be eligible for Gift Aid you must be a UK taxpayer and have paid at least the same amount of UK income tax or capital gains tax as we (and any other charitable donations for which you claim relief) would reclaim on your donation.  

5. Terminating your Membership

5.1 You can cancel your Patron membership at any time by contacting us using the details provided. The donation portion of the membership is non-refundable once received. If you cancel part way through the year, the benefit value of the Patron membership will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.

5.2 You may cancel your Patron membership at any time with written notice to us using the contact details above if we make a material change to the benefits or the terms of that Scheme and you are able to demonstrate that such change has a material adverse effect on you; or terminate the Scheme of which you are a member completely.

5.3 Your use of BFI Player is subject to the terms of use of BFI Player. If your membership is cancelled or if there is any difficulty with collecting payment, the BFI will automatically cancel the connected BFI Player subscription.  

5.4 Upon notification of the death of a Patron, the BFI will conclude the Membership unless instructed to transfer to a named individual for the remainder of the annual membership period. Such transfers will be at the discretion of the BFI, and subject to Gift Aid regulations. Any refund would only be for the benefit value on a pro-rata basis of the unused period of the membership.

6. Direct Debits

6.1 Direct Debit payments will begin being taken within four weeks of joining the Patrons scheme and on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis. You will be notified prior to the payment of your annual renewal fee.  

6.2 If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, the BFI will notify you at least 10 working days in advance of your account being debited, or as otherwise agreed.  

6.3 You can cancel a Direct Debit any time by writing to your bank or building society, or through their online banking portal, if provided. Please also send a copy of your notification to us.  

6.4 If there is any difficulty with collecting the Direct Debit payment the BFI will be in touch to re-attempt payment collection.  

6.5 Three failed attempts at collection will result in the cancellation of the Patron membership as well as any bookings or use of benefits made under the Patron membership. Cancelled bookings will be treated as returned tickets in accordance with the BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX ticketing terms and conditions.

6.6 If we cannot collect payment, we may suspend or cancel the services and charge you the reasonable costs of debt recovery proceedings to recover any sums you owe under this agreement. 

7. Your obligations as a Patron

7.1 We reserve the right to, if necessary, revoke Patron membership without refund if an individual behaves in a threatening, abusive or otherwise inappropriate manner towards any person at the BFI, damages or threatens to damage any property of the BFI or other venue of a BFI event, or acts in a manner which – in the BFI’s sole opinion – brings the BFI into disrepute.  

7.2 We reserve the right to, if necessary, voluntarily return the donation of any Patron if, in the BFI’s sole opinion, we determine that keeping the funds would bring the BFI into disrepute.

8. Data Protection

8.1 For more information on how we look after your personal information please see our Privacy Policy.    

8.2 You can change your contact preferences any time by contacting our patrons office.

9. Jurisdiction

9.1 These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts of England.