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This film is part of Free
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins
From the collection of:
Traditional holiday activities and images - Santa on his sleigh, the tree outside City Hall, a children's choir - are punctuated by reminders that not all is as it should be. British Army jeeps prowl the streets and shoppers make small talk as they have their bags searched at security checkpoints.
The film concludes with interviews with religious representatives of the Catholic and Protestant communities. Despite the difficulties that are apparent, they sound a note of optimism and envisage better times ahead. This government film comes from the BFI collection.
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Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.
Current affairs 1983 5 mins Location: Snibston
A bleak Christmas for the men of Snibston Colliery as mining in Coalville comes to an end in the last days of 1983.
Drama 1914 33 mins
Moving theatre-set Christmas tale of a former dancer and her child
Amateur film 1962 17 mins Silent Location: Cambridge
The filmic memoirs in Cambridgeshire of heart surgeon Christopher Parish and his family, beginning with Christmas traditions, and including a royal visit. The year is 1962.
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent
Recruits of Lord Kitchener's 'New Army' parade on Christmas morning.
Amateur film 1940 10 mins Silent Location: Heath
Life with the Iles family: Summer is for cycling, the seaside, tending to tortoises and meeting delightful collie pups. Christmas is for crackers and the gift of a perfect doll.
News 1966 22 mins Location: Belfast
Take a rare glimpse into the thoughts and lives of members of Belfast’s Jewish Community during the 1960s.
Non-Fiction 1930 1 mins Silent Location: Belfast
A statue of Edward Carson, giant of Ulster Unionism, is unveiled at Stormont
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1984 13 mins Silent Location: Belfast
Watch time becomes an artist's material as the city's landmarks star in a strange choreography of workers, shoppers and builders.
Comedy 1998 11 mins Location: Belfast
Black comedy about a teenage idealist who builds a bomb, hijacks a lorry and sets off on a most peculiar mission.
Comedy 1998 11 mins Location: Belfast
When a bet goes wrong a young man must charm a snake to win back his most treasured possession.
Documentary 1989 0 mins Location: Belfast
Gospel singer and preacher travels from his home in Tennessee to Belfast on a mission to bring the healing power of Jesus back to Northern Ireland
Amateur film 1974 11 mins Location: Hayling Island
You'll be up to your knees in clay when you meet the Pyecrofts in this delightful film about a family brick making business on Hayling Island -
Amateur film 1976 4 mins Silent Location: Netley Marsh
The hot summer of '76 is made even hotter by a line-up of working steam traction engines in this nostalgic film from R H Collins
Amateur film 1952 15 mins Silent Location: Eastbourne
Journey back to the 50s where the boys of Eastbourne College enjoy a jolly good time square bashing, parading, playing rugby and athletics, rowing on the River Ouse and touring.
Amateur film 1966 7 mins Silent Location: Hove
Catch a glimpse of Hove's old town hall before the bull-dozers move in as well as leafy Horsham scenes and a local hunt at Patcham in this film from Doreen Combes
Amateur film 1969 4 mins Silent Location: Fulking
Frank Gregory captures rural West Sussex in this charming film from 1969 - featuring Shire horses at a ploughing match and excellent views of a spinning Shipley Mill
Amateur film 1967 4 mins Silent Location: Southend Pier
Join this happy family on a jolly to Southend - visiting the mile long pier, the replica Golden Hind, a jellied eel stall and lured by posters promising medieval torture
Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover all aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage.
