National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is currently unavailable

Opening Ceremony - the Festiniog & District Heroes Memorial Hospital
A procession makes it way to the hospital for the opening ceremony, led by a horse-drawn fire tender and including bands, schoolchildren, masons and the Ffestiniog Shepherds.
From the collection of:

Overview
Footage shot by the local cinema operator, Thomas Ellis Griffiths and his son, Mervyn Griffiths, showing the procession to, and ceremonial opening of, the hospital in Blaenau Ffestiniog on Saturday 11th June 1927. It was Col. David Davies, MP, Llandinam, who, according to the official programme, declared "this Heroes' Memorial Hospital duly open in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost".
Oakley Hospital in Blaenau Ffestiniog catered for sick and injured quarrymen but it had long been felt that a general hospital was also needed and building one was voted a fitting way of remembering the local men who died as soldiers during the 1914-18 war. Work started on the hospital in 1923, to a design by Clough Williams-Ellis (he was to start building Portmeirion in 1925). It was paid for through fund-raising and donations and maintained for many years by voluntary contributions.
Related

Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr
Advert 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?

Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales Local Cinema Advertisements - North Wales
Advert 1965 5 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Trefro's Milk Bar, Ruthin, has lovable eclairs and the Taj Mahal Indian restaurants in Caernarfon and Bangor offer tables of enchantment!

Land of the Red Dragon Land of the Red Dragon
Advert 1968 18 mins Location: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
Wales: seeped in history (castles) and clothed in modernity (sports and eating out). Why go elsewhere?

The Roof over Your Head The Roof over Your Head
Documentary 1937 19 mins Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
The hazardous, hair-raising journey of Welsh slate - from subterranean rock to the world’s rooftops

Y Chwarelwr Y Chwarelwr
Drama-documentary 1935 34 mins Location: Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Slate is the lifeblood of Blaenau Ffestiniog, but its dust can be deadly, with a painful legacy for family and society

The Hardings in Llandudno and North Wales The Hardings in Llandudno and North Wales
Home movie 1965 15 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Can anywhere beat north Wales for views and thrilling modes of transport? Llandudno has an irresistable hinterland…

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 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.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 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.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 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: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.