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.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
The Apprentice Boys in Derry
A silent display of two northern traditions to tempt holiday makers to our shores
From the collection of:
Overview
The Apprentice Boys annual march in the walled city contrasts the cliff top gathering of Irish dancers. Both summer displays of pageantry are captured on film by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to promote the region as a holiday destination. These rushes would later be set to music and woven into short films used to encourage Americans and people from British industrial towns to holiday across the water.
On December 18th the Apprentice Boys hold a smaller annual demonstration to mark the shutting of the gates by thirteen of their namesakes beginning the siege. On this day an effigy of Colonel Lundy who sought to negotiate an end to the siege is traditionally burnt or hanged. ‘Lundies’ is still a term used to describe people considered traitors to the unionist cause. The main parade is held on 12th August to commemorate the end of the 1689 siege of Derry, in which almost half of the population died from injury and starvation. This film opens with Walker’s Pillar which after 145 years dominating the skyline was blown up by an IRA bomb in 1973. This film comes from the collection of National Museums Northern Ireland.
Related
Watch for free
The Open Door The Open Door
Documentary 21 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Witness the changing face of psychiatric care in this hospital sponsored public information film
Watch for free
The Man From A.U.N.T. The Man From A.U.N.T.
Comedy 1965 5 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Who is this mysterious man causing chaos in the city of a 1000 rumours? Watch tonight’s feature from Alfred Hiccup to discover Derry’s hidden world.
Watch for free
The Mayor's Parade The Mayor's Parade
Sponsored film 1976 10 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Watch Anthony and Cleopatra make a triumphant entry in the Mayor’s Parade. What will impress the judges more, good behaviour or a good float?
Watch for free
Nebelung Nebelung
Drama 1978 10 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
A Derry classroom becomes an unlikely setting for this uncanny experimental film by Terence McDonald and Gerry Wills
Watch for free
The Fugitive The Fugitive
Comedy 1966 5 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
There is a baby and a bandit loose in the streets of Derry, but which one is the fugitive, the robber or the runaway pram?
Watch for free
Zwischen Zwischen
Drama 1970 7 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Between us is truth, let there be truth between us
Watch for free
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.
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.