BAFTA unveiled on Monday that Clare Binns, the creative director of Picturehouse Cinemas and Picturehouse Entertainment and “a driving force in the distribution of films in the U.K.,” will be honored with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards next month.
The special award, one of BAFTA’s highest accolades, is presented “to an individual or organization that has made a significant and inspiring contribution to film through a particular project or work – with a focus on recognizing individuals or organizations who might not otherwise be eligible in BAFTA’s competitive awards categories.
“Over the last four decades and counting, Clare has built an exceptional reputation amongst the British film industry for championing diverse and fiercely independent work on big screens around the U.K.,” BAFTA said. “This has included showcasing filmmakers, including Danny Boyle, Francis Lee, Steve McQueen, Shola Amoo, Charlotte Regan, Alice Winocour, and films including Deerskin, The Wife, Taste of Things, The Last Tree, Monster, and God’s Own Country.”
She has also spearheaded “countless initiatives to bring new audiences into cinemas and put them at the heart of their local communities, such as programming relaxed, parent and baby, over 60s, and dog-friendly screenings,” BAFTA highlighted. And she has overseen an increase in Picturehouse’s social and other outreach, including collaborations with Brixton Soup Kitchen and Poetic Unity at The Ritzy Picturehouse. Plus, Refuge, a U.K. charity for victims of domestic violence,became Picturehouse’s charity partner, regularly holding fundraisers and raising awareness of its work.
“Clare Binns’ impact on the British film industry is profound – she is a hugely talented and beloved visionary,” said Emily Stillman, BAFTA chair of the film committee. “Clare’s unwavering commitment to bring a diverse range of storytelling to the big screen, her belief in the power of cinema, and her ongoing work championing emerging independent filmmakers, is inspirational.”
Said Binns: “I was totally blown away when I heard that I was getting this award. I’m so thrilled not just for myself but for everyone who has worked with me throughout my career and for those who continue to support the mission to welcome audiences into local cinemas across the U.K., who are just getting on with the job of giving film the home it deserves.”
The BAFTA Film Awards take place in London on Feb. 22. One Battle After Another leads the recently unveiled nomination longlists, ahead of Hamnet and Sinners.
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