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Explore archive films
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
Lady FootballersLady Footballers
Non-Fiction19180 minsSilent Location: Southend-on-Sea
Women munitions workers from the Kynoch and Vickers Maxim factories take to the pitch in Southend during WWI.
Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark KermodeDaniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film202544 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.
School Sports DaySchool Sports Day
Home movie19733 minsSilent Location: Enfield
Colourful and lively home movie record of garden activities and school sports day in Enfield Town Park.
Filey Film July 1937Filey Film July 1937
Amateur film19376 minsSilent Location: Filey
Fun and games on holiday at the North Yorkshire seaside with the Dean and Street families
Hot DogsHot Dogs
Documentary197010 mins Location: Bingley
The quirks of a whippet race, with novices in winklepickers learning from the old hands, all fully elucidated in broad West Yorkshire dialect.
Quite Unfit for FemalesQuite Unfit for Females
Non-Fiction19211 mins
A light-hearted newsreel item on the Football Association's proposed ban on women's football in 1921.
New Perspectives
Enjoy the insight and attitude of our student curators, who dig a little deeper into films that may just become your new obsession.
New Perspectives: TangerineNew Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary20253 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.
New Perspectives: Fish TankNew Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary20254 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.
New Perspectives: OldboyNew Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary20244 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of DesireNew Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary20244 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
New Perspectives: PusherNew Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary20255 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
Queer Britain
A colourful and challenging collection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.
What's a Girl Like You ...What's a Girl Like You ...
Documentary196952 mins Location: Vauxhall
Scintillating look at the 1960s drag renaissance, with a visit to London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Gay Black GroupGay Black Group
Magazine and Review show198325 mins Location: Bloomsbury
The Gay Black Group - reasserting culture and identity on two levels.
We Who Have FriendsWe Who Have Friends
Documentary196949 mins Location: London
A fascinating and important film on attitudes towards homosexuality, and what it was like to be gay, shortly after it was partially legalised.
A Couple of BeautiesA Couple of Beauties
Comedy197229 mins
Innuendo-laden crime caper, a star vehicle for Manchester-based drag queen Bunny Lewis
Scarborough Ahoy!Scarborough Ahoy!
Drama199433 mins Location: Scarborough
A straight woman and a gay man cruise their way across North East England in this Tennessee Williams-inspired short.
Layla - Exclusive Q&ALayla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202527 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Loyle Carner - The CutLoyle Carner - The Cut
Short documentary20188 mins
Mercury Prize-nominated musician Loyle Carner reveals compelling films that have inspired him and his work.
Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&AJoanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202451 mins
Actor and writer Joanna Scanlan talks to Mia Bays, director of the BFI's Filmmaking Fund, about her career in film and television.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&AStarve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202424 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&AGetting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film202422 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&ATwin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film202538 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Featured collections
Queer Britain
This colourful and challenging collection explores screen representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.
Other Grooves
An eccentric excursion to the furthest fringes of youth culture and alternative lifestyles, as captured in archive film and TV.
Before Windrush
Precious glimpses and surprising rediscoveries: snapshots of black Britain in the decades before the great postwar migrations.