The British Film Institute (BFI) has announced it will unveil the £4.5m refurbished National Film Theatre in March 2007.

The theatre will be known as the BFI Southbank and has been built in addition to the existing three cinema spaces on the site to allow the BFI to provide visitors with even more opportunities to engage with film.

New features will include an informal, drop-in digital cinema and a Mediatheque, comprising 14 purpose-built viewing stations where visitors will be able to access hundreds of hours of film and television from the BFI National Archive.

A new gallery has also been built, with a debut exhibition featuring New York-based artists Jennifer and Kevin McCoy whose work mixes live video and sculpture.

The main entrance will be relocated to the east side of the building, opposite the National Theatre, and there will be a new bar and café in the foyer space.

The work was originally due to be completed this summer but was reportedly delayed because of funding problems. The BFI Southbank is part of a longer term plan to construct a purpose-built, National Film Centre in 2012. Details: www.bfi.org.uk