Free
Most Popular Free 2015
BFI Player was the birth of a notion, a mirror to reflect moving image history and heritage. Many stories are told, from towns reborn and hope renewed to fires lit and changes forced. Behold this year's most popular.
They belong to us all. There are many, many more to come.
Milton Keynes - A Village City Milton Keynes - A Village City
Cinemagazine 1973 8 mins Location: Milton Keynes
"The most exciting thing going on in Europe, if not the world": welcome to Milton Keynes circa 1973.
Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market Portsmouth's Charlotte Street Market
Amateur film 1977 6 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
The colourful bustle of Portsmouth's oldest street market features in this 1977 film – where traders and shoppers mix under the brooding presence of the infamous Tricorn Centre.
Telford Telford
School programme and Educational film 1977 9 mins Location: Telford
Six Shropshire villages combine and the new town of Telford is born.
Wolverhampton into the Seventies Wolverhampton into the Seventies
Documentary 1970 20 mins Location: Wolverhampton
Bricks and mortar makes way for concrete and reinforced steel as Wolverhampton sweeps the past aside in a modernist town planning utopia.
Chichester Tour Chichester Tour
Amateur film 1962 7 mins Silent Location: Chichester
A fascinating film showing the cathedral city of Chichester before the arrival of its ringroad and the pedestrianisation of its Roman streets.
Manchester Street Scenes (1901) Manchester Street Scenes (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Manchester
A rare glimpse of early Edwardian Manchester when the horse-drawn tram still reigned supreme.
History of Portsmouth History of Portsmouth
Amateur film 1937 24 mins Silent Location: Hilsea
This gem of a film shows pre-war Portsmouth and Southsea, in colour, before the Blitz and features its historic streets and buildings and holiday-makers on Southsea's beaches.
Milton Keynes and the area Milton Keynes and the area
News 1968 10 mins Silent Location: Milton Keynes
Anglia TV footage of the pre-existing towns and pretty North Bucks hamlets newly incorporated into the New Town Development of Milton Keynes. For TV transmission on 28 June 1968.
Liverpool 8 Liverpool 8
Current affairs 1972 27 mins Location: Liverpool
Jonathan Dimbleby investigates racial tension on Liverpool's housing estates for This Week.
Not So Much a Facelift... Not So Much a Facelift...
Documentary 1976 25 mins Location: Norwich
An enjoyably odd public information film shot on the streets of Blackburn, Norwich and Oxford.
Introducing Scotland Introducing Scotland
School programme and Educational film 1958 20 mins Location: Glasgow
Take a whirlwind tartan tour of 1950s Scotland in this educational colour film, with fun facts about fishing, transport, coal, shipbuilding, steelworks, farming and tourism.
Round the Wirral with a Movie Camera Round the Wirral with a Movie Camera
Advert 1934 9 mins Silent Location: Birkenhead
Birkenhead's sights, shopping opportunities and industries.
Vote for Froglet Vote for Froglet
Children's 1974 7 mins
As the general election is held in the UK, it's polling day for the Clangers on a small blue planet far away.
Cycling Stunt Man Cycling Stunt Man
Non-Fiction 1974 3 mins Location: Gloucester
Gloucester's answer to Evel Knievel may not be able to afford a motorbike but he won't let that deter him...
Day in Liverpool Day in Liverpool
Travelogue 1929 33 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
Metropolis meets Merseyside, as this city-symphony inspired film portrays a city thriving with modernity.
Crystal Clear Crystal Clear
Industry sponsored film 1959 18 mins Location: Sunderland
A cheery public relations film, laced with English romanticism, illustrates the long journey of local water from scenic Burnhope Reservoir to a Sunderland tap.
Street Scenes in Halifax (1902) Street Scenes in Halifax (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 10 mins Silent Location: Halifax
Many views of busy, bustling Halifax, including a handsome, horse-drawn steam fire engine.
Bradford Suburban Bradford Suburban
Non-Fiction 1961 11 mins Silent Location: Bradford
The hope for a bright post war future for this newly built council estate in Bradford in 1961, with dads tending the gardens and kids playing on jiggers in the streets.
Sudbury Market Sudbury Market
Amateur film 1979 8 mins Silent Location: Sudbury
Sudbury's market dates back to 1009! One of Suffolk's popular markets, amateur filmmaker John Anderson documents the stall holders and their visitors circa 1979.
Aberdeen Aberdeen
Documentary 1970 19 mins Location: Aberdeen
Explore the growth of Aberdeen’s sparkling streets in this lively and colourful educational documentary produced by Campbell Harper Films for the 'Cities of Scotland' series.