In Memoriam
Prof Brian Winston
(1941-2022)
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Professor Brian Winston. Brian will be remembered as a towering figure in documentary studies. He was also a founding member of BAFTSS and the Association's first Chair.
During his career Brian was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement, Informational Programming – Writing, in 1985. He scripted a documentary feature on Robert Flaherty, titled A Boatload of Wild Irishmen (Mac Dara Ó'Curraidhín, 2010), authored Claiming the Real: Documentary: Grierson and Beyond (BFI, 1995), Lies, Damn Lies, and Documentaries (BFI, 2000) and edited The Documentary Film Book (BFI/ Bloomsbury, 2013). Brian was a Governor of the British Film Institute and integral to the foundation of the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies.
Next year will see BAFTSS 11th Annual Conference. As we step into the second decade of BAFTSS, the association’s Executive Committee are honoured to share texts written by the Editor of Open Screens, Andy Moor, former BAFTSS Secretary Professor Rajinder Dudrah, and current members of the Advisory Board, Professor Dîna Iordanova, Professor Phil Powrie and Professor Sarah Street, as they recall Brian's work and legacy.
During his career Brian was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement, Informational Programming – Writing, in 1985. He scripted a documentary feature on Robert Flaherty, titled A Boatload of Wild Irishmen (Mac Dara Ó'Curraidhín, 2010), authored Claiming the Real: Documentary: Grierson and Beyond (BFI, 1995), Lies, Damn Lies, and Documentaries (BFI, 2000) and edited The Documentary Film Book (BFI/ Bloomsbury, 2013). Brian was a Governor of the British Film Institute and integral to the foundation of the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies.
Next year will see BAFTSS 11th Annual Conference. As we step into the second decade of BAFTSS, the association’s Executive Committee are honoured to share texts written by the Editor of Open Screens, Andy Moor, former BAFTSS Secretary Professor Rajinder Dudrah, and current members of the Advisory Board, Professor Dîna Iordanova, Professor Phil Powrie and Professor Sarah Street, as they recall Brian's work and legacy.
"I met Brian in the mid-1990s when I had my first part-time teaching post at the School of Media and Journalism at Cardiff University and Brian was the then Head of School. Years later we would meet again in 2011 when BAFTSS was being set up and I served alongside him as our first Association Chair, and I was an interim and then elected first BAFTSS Secretary and Executive Committee member for a number of years. Working closely with Brian and other colleagues back then was fun, not least as we were setting up something new that was needed for a wider community. Brian had an amazing knowledge of procedure, contract law pertaining to associations such as ours, and he skilfully set up our very own constitution without too much fuss. ‘Are we quorate?’ was a term I heard often.
Brian was witty, he always had sage sayings gathered from his varied worldly travels for almost any occasion that our meetings would find us in. At our social gatherings after committee meetings and at our annual BAFTSS conferences Brian’s hearty laugh and jovial collegiality could be heard well across many of our function rooms. He was small in stature but big on ideas, actions and getting things done in meaningful ways for the benefit of others. Whilst we might not have agreed on every matter, he was an effective leader, energetic, listened well to early career colleagues and I learned much from his professionalism. He will be missed. Go well Brian!" Professor Rajinder Dudrah, Birmingham City University, former BAFTSS Secretary (2011 -2015) and Executive Committee Member (until June 2020). |
“Brian Winston was one of these people who were so engaged and full of energy that one somehow assumes they may be around forever. I am still struggling with the news of his passing.
There was a period in my life when I worked quite closely with Brian; we were in touch on a daily basis. And it was a rewarding experience. It was at the time, some 10-12 years ago, when a group of us took the initiative to push for establishing a dedicated Film studies organisation in the U.K. – today’s BAFTSS. It was not an easy start, as there were quite a few colleagues, mainly from Brian’s generation, who thought film sat comfortably within media studies and there was no such thing as film studies as a separate discipline. This view found expression in some quite heated discussions, mainly involving senior colleagues with quite a bit of clout in the academic hierarchy. Brian took a different view, opposed the critics – and this meant he stood up against some of his personal friends, and came to our support. Things had evolved, he argued; it had become necessary to have a film studies organisation, he agreed. And he acted accordingly: by agreeing to become the first President of BAFTSS. It was essential political help. We worked together on creating the constitution, the membership and events structure, as well as the plans for development. We did not always agree -and we argued about details, yet always finding a productive compromise. It was an intense and satisfying work. We all stepped down once we knew BAFTSS had taken off. There is so much more to say about him as a leading scholar on documentary – and I see colleagues paying tribute to him in this respect. For me, he will always remain a cherished friend who I cared for. R.I.P., Brian.” Professor Dîna Iordanova, Emeritus, University of St. Andrews, BAFTSS Advisory Board. |
“Even before the Constitution for BAFTSS existed Brian was leading the group that was involved in setting up what would become the Association. He was so very welcoming, energetic and imaginative and we all looked to him for wise counsel. I remember his outlook was that 'if there is a need for a new Association, then people will join it!'. It was a natural given that, via Brian, the University of Lincoln would host the first BAFTSS Conference. Brian was adamant that 'having an annual conference' would be the marker of a successful Association. The next task he had in mind was the establishment of a journal. Sorcha Ní Fhlainn, Chris Pallant and I worked with Brian and alongside Martin Eve to set up Open Screens with the Open Library of Humanities. That arrangement met what we wanted: genuinely open access, free to publish in, and accessible.”
Dr Andy Moor, Manchester Metropolitan University, former Chair of BAFTSS (2017-2020) and Editor of Open Screens. |
“Brian Winston will be remembered for many things: his seminal work on documentary, his enthusiasm for cinema in all its forms, his enthusiasm which led him to take on important roles in professional associations such as Visible Evidence, and, latterly, as the founding Chair of the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies 2011-2014. Brian’s passion for film and his extensive networks, born of many years’ academic experience since the early 1970s, gave BAFTSS exactly what it needed as a fledgling association: dynamism, forward thinking, and a clear idea of the pitfalls of professional associations. His towering presence combined with broad knowledge of film as a discipline took us rapidly from a loosely defined group of academics committed to our discipline to an association with a distinctive public face, a clear vision and a will to celebrate and support all colleagues invested in film, TV and screen studies. Brian was also a character, charismatic, intellectually curious, clubbable, a delight to be with whether in his more formal role as Chair of BAFTSS or on more social occasions at our annual conference, for example. I personally owe him a debt of gratitude as his successor because his passion and enthusiasm cleared a path which I was only too grateful to follow. But we all owe him a debt as a very visible and passionate supporter of our discipline at a time when the Arts and Humanities are increasingly under threat and devalorised. Brian gave us not just vision but value. We will miss his wisdom.”
Professor Phil Powrie, University of Surrey and former Chair of BAFTSS (2014-2017). |
“Brian was a stalwart supporter of BAFTSS from the very beginning, back in 2012. After its initial formation he soon became involved as a member of the Executive Committee, the first Chair and as organizer of the first conference in Lincoln. He made key contributions to debates about our constitution, and to on-going issues of concern to our disciplines. Brian helped to ensure that BAFTSS’ membership numbers increased, and that the association thrived. We owe a great deal to his commitment and energy. He was always generous with his knowledge and experience, and was a prime mover in the establishment of Open Screens. His scholarship was incredible, a distinctive voice on documentary filmmaking and author of many seminal publications such as his ground-breaking work on colour film technologies and ideology. He also delivered papers at our conferences, keen to share his knowledge and latest thinking on a range of issues; he was never out of touch with the latest issues and debates. Brian’s energetic and ebullient personality, keen sense of humour and sage scepticism about many things, will be sorely missed.”
Professor Sarah Street, University of Bristol, BAFTSS Advisory Board. |
Recent publications recalling Professor Brian Winston:
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