In 2020, the name was changed to British Film Editors to underline that the rapid differentiation in screen culture - from mediums to platforms - is nevertheless rooted in 'motion image'.
The honorary society has always had two main aims: to raise the profile of the craft of editing and to maintain the technical and creative skills of editors working in film and television.
In 2009 BFE (then GBFTE) joined with the Editors’ Guilds of Austria, Germany, Poland and Switzerland to successfully petition the European Film Academy for an award for Editing from that organisation.
In 2011 BFE (then GBFTE) joined with the BSC (British Society of Cinematographers), GBCT (Guild of British Camera Technicians) and BECTU (the UK Industry Technicians trades union) to form a Collecting Society - Screen Craft Rights - to receive these payments from Germany and other countries and distribute them to UK Cinematographers, Designers and Editors.
Other founding members were Ernest Walter, Freddie Wilson, Jack Harris, Bernard Gribble, Geoff Foot, Ralph Sheldon, Bill Lewthwaite, Jim Clark [2] and Teddy Darvas,[3] editor of the classic British movie The Railway Children.