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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

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Ten Bob in WinterTen Bob in Winter
Drama196312 mins Location: Westminster
An early classic of Black British cinema about the intriguing social dynamics that arise as a ten shilling note is passed around the black community.

Cherrie and Jonty’s Eighteenth Birthday CakeCherrie and Jonty’s Eighteenth Birthday Cake
Home movie19874 minsSilent Location: Hughenden Valley
With the candles all blown, it's down to the river and homespun rafts at the ready for the celebrating Steel twins

Christmas Is ComingChristmas Is Coming
Animation & Artists Moving Image19511 minsSilent
Santa's on strike! This charming animation for the GPO advises early posting to keep Father Christmas onside.

Winter HolidayWinter Holiday
Advert19592 mins Location: Brighton
This handsome Technicolor ad makes a good case for a trip to Butlin's, despite the blustery rooftop activities

Amateur Television StationAmateur Television Station
News19726 mins Location: Oldbury
New Midlands television station takes to the air but the BBC and ITV remain unconcerned about the competition.

Pan-tele-tronPan-tele-tron
Animation & Artists Moving Image195710 mins
Ye Gods! It’s the future of telecommunications – as seen through a cartoon modern lens from the 1950s

The VolunteerThe Volunteer
War194442 mins Location: Denham
Entertaining and evocative Fleet Air Arm drama-doc propaganda piece, written and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Return to the Edge of the WorldReturn to the Edge of the World
Documentary197824 mins Location: Shetland Islands
Michael Powell makes a moving return trip to the remote island of Foula, forty years after he shot his first major feature there.

An Airman's Letter to His MotherAn Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary19416 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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.

Five Guineas a WeekFive Guineas a Week
Musical195633 mins
1950s song and dance revue set in a colourful world of boarding houses and coffee bars

Devil's RockDevil's Rock
Musical193851 mins Location: Bangor
Will new open-air microphone technology give Richard Hayward the chance to silence his critics? Watch as Cushendun and Bangor steal the show.

Co-operetteCo-operette
Advert193815 mins
See silly slapstick, music, mayhem and a daffy dance-off between a carrot and an onion in this lively colour film advertising Co-op stores.

Bob in the PoundBob in the Pound
Advert19432 minsSilent
Fun-filled singalong savings ad with a dangerously catchy theme tune.

Sweethearts ForeverSweethearts Forever
Musical194534 mins
Feast your eyes on a bewildering barrage of forgotten British variety turns in this strange low-budget novelty short from 1945.

CabaretCabaret
Musical194510 mins
Set during rehearsals for a cabaret show, this short film features singer Rosalind Melville.
Featured collections

Black Britain on Film
Striking, illuminating and sometimes surprising images of black culture, community and characters, spanning over a century of British film and TV.

Football on Film
Football and film: two giants of 20th century spectacle. Born just a few years apart, film and the professional game have grown up together, as this fascinating collection shows.

NHS on Film
Film has the power to change lives – and even save them. No surprise, then, that moving images have played an important role in one of the world’s greatest public health services.

More Disabled Britain on Film in our Free collection