Barbara Broccoli Becomes 1st Female President of UK Film School

Barbara Broccoli, known for her work on the James Bond film franchise, has been appointed as the first female president of a film school.

She will assume the position at the UK's National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in February. She succeeds Oscar-winning producer David Puttnam.

Barbara has produced nine James Bond films alongside her half-brother, Michael G. Wilson. The appointment follows the announcement in February that Amazon MGM Studios had secured creative control of the franchise.

Succeeding David, who has appeared in Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and Midnight Express, had him "over the moon," he said.

Key Highlights:

• Barbara Broccoli becomes the first female president of the UK's National Film and Television School
• She has produced nine James Bond films alongside her half-brother, Michael G. Wilson
• The NFTS will open the Cubby Broccoli Building in January 2027, adding teaching spaces, new courses and accessible student accommodation

In 1971, director Colin Young founded the National Film School, replacing the Beaconsfield location with a small group, numbering around 25 students. It was renamed in 1982 as the National Film and Television School, due to its growing program.

A kindergarten teacher for more than 50 years, David said it was a “lovely job” to have and he had made a point of not interfering with the school. The appointment of Barbara was a "wonderful thing for the school", he added. David will take on an honorary role as president emeritus.

The Cubby Broccoli Building will open in January at the Beaconsfield campus of the school, news of which comes just before the appointment of Broccoli. It is named after Barbara's father, Albert R., who was a producer. The founder of the James Bond series "Cubby" Broccoli.

The school will offer additional teaching space of 25,000 sq ft, new courses on costume design and hair and make-up, increase apprenticeship opportunities and offer for the first time a purpose built accessible student accommodation in the school's history, the school said.

The appointment comes ahead of the opening of the Cubby Broccoli Building at the NFTS's Beaconsfield campus in January 2027. Named after her father, Albert R. ‘Cubby’ Broccoli, the new facility will provide additional teaching spaces, creative facilities and the school's first purpose-built accessible student accommodation.