The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
National Garden Festival Gateshead
Experience the spectacle of landscape gardening on a grand scale in Gateshead.
From the collection of:
Overview
From urban decay to dahlia displays and the drama of Dunston Staiths, Gateshead has its eye on future regeneration driven by horticultural heaven. One of the 3 million flanêurs at the event that year trips through the city’s National Garden Festival with his cine camera. This landscape of spectacle and theatricality, traversed by a caterpillar monorail, was built on the derelict land of a once industrial Tyne riverside, scarred by gas and coke works, and railway sidings.
The many exhibits, including models of European landmarks such as the Tower of Pisa, can’t compete with the remarkable industrial architecture of Dunston Staiths, a quarter of a mile long and the largest wooden structure in Europe, perhaps the world. Built in 1890 by the North Eastern Railway Company, it was once a noisy, dirty and busy environment, with the comings and goings of visiting seamen on the steamers, locomotives shunting coal wagons and gangs of men called ‘teemers’ directing coal into the ships. The National Garden Festivals were an idea pushed by Michael Heseltine in 1980, intended to kick-start local economies as part of the Thatcher government’s urban policy for the inner cities.
Related
Watch for free
Gateshead Games Gateshead Games
Amateur film 1974 8 mins Silent Location: Gateshead
Witness a world record-beating race on home ground by Gateshead’s local sporting hero, Brendan Foster.
Watch for free
Eartha Kitt Interview Eartha Kitt Interview
Magazine and Review show 1971 3 mins Location: Gateshead
Interview with the blacklisted American entertainer and activist Eartha Kitt who purred her way to success.
Watch for free
County of Northumberland County of Northumberland
Amateur film 1963 19 mins Silent Location: Holy Island
The toe-dipping delights and tranquillity of the Northumbrian Riviera and beyond.
Watch for free
The Film of the Film of the Film The Film of the Film of the Film
Amateur film 1977 3 mins Location: Gateshead
A double, double take on the art of making amateur movies in a 50th anniversary celebration for the Newcastle and District ACA.
Watch for free
Metro: The Way Ahead Metro: The Way Ahead
Promotional 1984 27 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
The fast track to an ambitious new Metro system that ends commuter misery on Tyneside in the 80s.
Watch for free
City Report City Report
Amateur film 1985 21 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A roving cine club camera charts the changing face of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and its environs in the 1980s.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.