A new state-of-the-art film centre is to be created on London's South Bank, thanks to a Government commitment of £45 million, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced.

The British Film Institute (BFI) National Film Centre will showcase the best of British and world cinema across five screens, as well as creating an innovative new space for exhibitions, cultural events, research and study.

Speaking ahead of the project's launch at the BFI London Film Festival, the Prime Minister said: "Britain has achieved worldwide respect for its innovative and vibrant film industry, exceptional arts and rich cultural heritage. This project creates a new home for British film right at the heart of London's cultural centre on the South Bank.

"These are challenging economic times, but with backing from the public and private sector, the commitment to the new BFI National Film Centre demonstrates the government's continuing support for the arts in Britain and our determination to invest in leading creative industries as part of our economic recovery.

"This is a great British success story and shows what can be achieved with a government that backs talent and gets behind the industry."

The film centre investment comes on top of £25 million that the government has already committed to preserve for the nation the BFI's internationally acclaimed film collection, as well as significant collections held in regional archives - the visual memory of the UK.

This will allow the BFI to creative permanent, safe storage for the country's cinematic heritage and fund an ambitious digitisation programme which will allow people across the UK to access their screen heritage - wherever they live and wherever the material is held.

(KMcA/BMcC)