Brian Robinson, a defining force in British queer cinema, archivist, and the long-serving programmer of BFI Flare, has died of brain cancer at the age of 67, according to extensive retrospectives published by the British Film Institute. Over nearly four decades with the institution, Robinson shaped the landscape of LGBTQ+ film culture in the United Kingdom, transitioning from a press officer into an internationally respected curator, historian, and master of ceremonies for major cultural events.
Born in Northern Ireland, Robinson studied law at the University of Sussex, where he established an early campus gay film group. In 1987, he joined the press office for the National Film Theatre—now known as BFI Southbank—kicking off a career that spanned generations of film history and brought him into contact with legendary cinematic figures. Colleagues and institutions have remembered him not merely as an administrator, but as a flamboyant showman whose vivid dress sense, sharp wit, and deep encyclopedic knowledge made him a beloved fixture of London’s cultural community.
“Titles such as press officer or programmer do not quite do justice to the contribution to UK film culture of the extraordinary Brian Robinson,” the British Film Institute noted in its official obituary, highlighting his role as a connector of people and a champion of underappreciated film heritage.
A Glittering Career at BFI Southbank and BFI Flare
During his decades at the BFI, Robinson wore many hats. After promoting the BFI’s cultural program through the late 1980s and 1990s, he shifted in 2000 to become communications manager for archive and heritage. In this capacity, he worked on landmark archival undertakings, including the preservation of the Mitchell & Kenyon collection of rediscovered Edwardian films and the rollout of the digital BFI Mediatheque resource.
Simultaneously, Robinson embarked on a parallel programming career with BFI Flare, formerly known as the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Spanning nearly 25 years, his tenure made him the longest-serving programmer of the UK’s longest-running queer film festival. His curation bridged the Golden Age of Hollywood with underground gay erotica, independent features, and archival rediscoveries. His international standing within the queer film community earned him appointments on festival juries for prestigious accolades including the Teddy Award, Queer Palm, Queer Lion, and the Iris Prize.
Colleagues frequently recalled his presence as a gifted raconteur and an unforgettable host. Whether interviewing Julie Andrews on stage or delivering Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s specially customized, diamond-set BFI Fellowship award to her suite at the Dorchester Hotel, Robinson brought unmatched theatricality and humor to every engagement.
Preserving Queer History and Championing Forgotten Voices
Beyond his public-facing duties on stage, Robinson dedicated his career to ensuring that the history of queer cinema and its forebears was not lost to time. His networks and archival expertise helped BFI curators secure and preserve fragile items of national significance, including a 1978 film by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality and rare 1960s footage of drag performances from the Black Cap in Camden.
He also championed trailblazing creators who had been sidelined by mainstream history. Notably, Robinson brought the work of filmmaker Peter de Rome—widely dubbed the “grandfather of gay porn”—to British audiences, cementing a vital bridge between historical erotica and legitimate film preservation.
In 2024, Robinson stepped down from his programming duties following a diagnosis of glioblastoma. Tributes from filmmakers, actors, and cultural historians have poured in following news of his passing, honoring a man who transformed film curation into an art form rooted in warmth, rigorous scholarship, and an unwavering celebration of queer identity.
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