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See shorts and features, showing the best from the BFI, national and regional archives - including 120 years of Britain on film

What we're watching

A Year and a DayA Year and a Day
Nature and Science programme195414 minsSilent Location: Headingley
The metamorphosis of the eating machine which is the caterpillar, into an Emperor Moth, revealed in all its detail and presented in 15 minutes.

In One EndIn One End
Documentary197728 mins Location: Southwold
Real ale and folk music in the pub – performed by Fairport Convention – are celebrated in this portrait of Southwold on the Suffolk coast and the work of the Adnams brewery.

The Living RainbowThe Living Rainbow
Amateur film197626 minsSilent Location: Thompson Common
Critters and blossoms of all colours, in Norfolk, captured on Super 8 colour Kodachrome by amateur filmmaker and naturalist Dorothy Maxey.

Water Polo - Worthing Swimming ClubWater Polo - Worthing Swimming Club
Non-Fiction18980 minsSilent Location: Worthing
Brief but lively snatch of a game in progress

Don't Dream It - See ItDon't Dream It - See It
Amateur film197815 minsSilent Location: Chelsea
The Kings Road punks go on a day trip - to 10 Downing Street! - in this edition of Captain Zip's Video Trip.

Off for a rambleOff for a ramble
Promotional195111 minsSilent Location: Little Chalfont
Joining the Countrywide Holiday Association after the war to keep fit brought Jo Peters another reward - a wife!

Momma Don't AllowMomma Don't Allow
195621 mins Location: Wood Green
This lively profile of a night out at the Wood Green Jazz Club is one of the key works of Free Cinema, from directors Karel Reisz and Tony Richardson.

Lifestyle: Three Peaks RaceLifestyle: Three Peaks Race
Documentary197626 mins Location: Ingleborough
As if running up one mountain isn’t foolhardy enough, these hardened men in shorts do three, displaying amazing endurance, as well as weary legs and wasted expressions.

Miss Margaret Morris' Merry MermaidsMiss Margaret Morris' Merry Mermaids
Non-Fiction19233 minsSilent Location: Harlech
Budding dancers take to the beach at Harlech, north Wales, to show off their aquatic-themed moves

A Message from MarsA Message from Mars
Science Fiction191360 mins Location: London
Britain's first full-length science fiction feature has been restored by the BFI National Archive and given a new score by composer Matthew Herbert, commissioned by the BFI and the BBC.

The NudistsThe Nudists
News19719 mins Location: Devon
Country House offers naturists a way to air all.

Electric Tram Rides from Forster Square, Bradford (1902)Electric Tram Rides from Forster Square, Bradford (1902)
Non-Fiction19029 minsSilent Location: Bradford
An epic tour of the places and people of Edwardian Bradford.

Lydia West introduces Second ComingLydia West introduces Second Coming
Short documentary20215 mins
Lydia West (It’s A Sin) introduces debbie tucker green’s ethereal, warm and human debut feature.

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Riz Ahmed, Aleem Khan, Joanna Scanlan, Tricia Tuttle and Ben WheatleyMark Kermode Online In 3D with Riz Ahmed, Aleem Khan, Joanna Scanlan, Tricia Tuttle and Ben Wheatley
Discussion programme202045 mins
Mark looks back at the 2020 BFI London Film Festival, speaking to Festival Director Tricia Tuttle about the challenges of this year and chatting to the creators of two of the Festival’s most talked about titles: Mogul Mowgli and After Love.

Ojumo Ti MoOjumo Ti Mo
Documentary201916 mins
Three years after their father passed, a family of four women come together through a series of phone calls spanning over three months.

Dear PhiladelphiaDear Philadelphia
Documentary202028 mins
Three African American fathers unravel the incomparable partnership of forgiveness and community.

We Do What We CanWe Do What We Can
Drama20199 mins
We Do What We Can is a film that looks at one of the miracles in the journey of diaspora Africans.

Papplewick Pumping StationPapplewick Pumping Station
News19766 mins Location: Papplewick
With brass polished and a good head of steam Papplewick's pumping station is a lasting legacy to Mariott Ogle Tarbotton.

The Strange Case of Penny AllisonThe Strange Case of Penny Allison
Training film/TV programme200218 mins
Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie as you've not quite seen them before: in a comedy training video for Britain’s National Blood Service.

Tracing the Spread of InfectionTracing the Spread of Infection
Documentary194923 mins
Doctors undertake forensic-style detective work to identify the origins of outbreaks, in the fascinating film from the early days of the NHS.

The British Way of HealthThe British Way of Health
Documentary197327 mins Location: London
A portrayal of the NHS which shows off the “marvellous” system to audiences around the world.

You and Your HealthYou and Your Health
Documentary197922 mins
The Community Health Council of Wales blows its own trumpet in myriad ways, including animation, to draw attention to their NHS advisory service.

Back to the CommunityBack to the Community
Documentary198629 mins Location: Bolton
Local authorities trial the Thatcher government’s new ‘care in the community’ initiative.

Organ Donor Card: Organ BoxOrgan Donor Card: Organ Box
19931 mins
An urgently filmed appeal for organ donation.
Featured collections

Sci-Fi - Days of Fear and Wonder
Take a trip around the blazing worlds of sci-fi as we undock a blockbuster celebration of this most spectacular of movie genres.

Daniel Kaluuya
To mark the release of Judas and the Black Messiah we present three acclaimed shorts starring Daniel Kaluuya.

Woman with a Movie Camera
Great films incite, others vex, a few elate. From pre-war to the present day, these remarkable works by international women directors do all that and more.