Emma Smart is Head Librarian for the BFI and is responsible for the strategic development of public access to BFI collections, which includes oversight for the BFI Reuben Library, BFI Mediatheque and is part of the team delivering the new archive streaming service, BFI Replay. She joined in 2000, first working as a library assistant and then librarian, responsible for the library’s journal collection. The role combined the skills Emma acquired working at an academic library with her long-held passion and understanding of the moving image. Emma is also a film programmer and for 14 years co-programmed BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival; she enjoys the creativity film programming offers. She has given several illustrated lectures about the history of queer cinema and most recently programmed BFI Southbank’s month-long Judy Garland season ‘A Star is Reborn’. She has been a part of several international film juries, including Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Oslo Skeive Filmer Film Festival and Outfest.

Katie joined the BFI Reuben Library in 2021 and is responsible for all elements of outreach and engagement with the BFI Reuben Library collections. Her background is in fashion and visual culture, having graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion History and Theory. Katie went on to spend seven years working at British fashion brand Alexander McQueen as the Archive Specialist, where she managed the extensive 2D and 3D Womenswear and Menswear collections and proudly contributed to the ground-breaking V&A exhibition Savage Beauty. Katie delivers a year-round programme of in-person events, library tours, inductions and study sessions all with the aim of enabling access to and advocating for the incredible BFI Reuben Library collection.