1940s

In the 1940s British cinema entered what is often referred to as a ‘golden age’. As the import of American films was halted throughout the Second World War (1939-1945) British filmmakers rose to the challenge of keeping the nation informed and providing much needed escapism for audiences. As a result of British filmmakers' wartime success the idea of a British Film Academy gathered momentum and the organisation that would eventually become BAFTA was officially launched in 1947.