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Woman with a Movie Camera

Great films incite, others vex, a few elate. From pre-war to the present day, these remarkable works by international women directors do all that and more.

The place of female filmmakers in cinema history demands correction, and the future looks bright. Keep up with this dedicated collection.

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OLD Woman With a Movie Camera Logo of programme, OLD Woman With a Movie Camera
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The London Story The London Story

Musical 1986 16 mins Location: Waterloo Sta

Sally Potter's lively dance film about spies and government intrigue.

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White Men Are Cracking Up White Men Are Cracking Up

Drama 1994 20 mins

The fatal fascination with the myth of the black feminine mystique is uncovered in Ngozi Onwurah's short

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Cedar Wood & Silk Cedar Wood & Silk

1995 14 mins

Insightful exploration of the relationship between a Jamaican mother and her British-born daughter.

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Around the Village Green Around the Village Green

Travelogue 1937 12 mins Location: Finchingfield

Rural life in the Essex villages of Finchingfield and Great Bardfield - and the mixed reactions of older residents to changing times.

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So This Is London So This Is London

Documentary 1933 14 mins Silent Location: Westminster

London at its best? This gorgeous lyrical portrait was made by pioneering female director Marion Grierson.

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Tunde's Film Tunde's Film

Documentary drama 1974 40 mins Location: Stepney

Tired of being hassled by the police and with no job opportunities, a group of teenage East End lads plan to rob a bank.

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Black to Front Black to Front

Current affairs 1978 27 mins Location: Brixton

World in Action interviews the residents of Haycroft Road, Brixton as a controversial by-election stokes concerns about race and immigration.

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Flight of the Swan Flight of the Swan

Drama 1992 12 mins

A young black ballerina rejects prejudice and finds her African spirit in Swan Lake.

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Today We Live Today We Live

Documentary 1937 24 mins Location: South Cerney

A key social issues film documentary from the British Documentary Movement, this two-part film follows the establishment of social enterprises in England and Wales.

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Dover, Spring 1947 Dover, Spring 1947

Documentary 1947 11 mins Location: Dover

Dover gets a makeover in this offbeat and pointed public information film.

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Hedging Hedging

Documentary 1942 9 mins Location: Moulton

Is your hedge thin and straggly? Don't worry, help is at hand

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Fair Rent Fair Rent

Documentary 1947 11 mins Location: Aberdeen

Power cuts, housing shortages and exorbitant rents – Aberdeen man Norrie Williamson goes head to head with his greedy landlady

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Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti Frida Kahlo & Tina Modotti

Documentary 1983 30 mins Director: Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen

Immerse yourself in the work of Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti - icons of the Mexican Renaissance.

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An Exchange for Fire: Sacrifice (Film London Jarman Award 2012) An Exchange for Fire: Sacrifice (Film London Jarman Award 2012)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2012 3 mins

Anja Kirschner and David Panos investigate the financial crisis from its European epicentre - Greece.

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The Necromancers (Film London Jarman Award 2010) The Necromancers (Film London Jarman Award 2010)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2010 3 mins

Theatre director Steve Pearl talks about his chance meetings with a female ventriloquist.

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An Exchange for Fire: Debt (Film London Jarman Award 2012) An Exchange for Fire: Debt (Film London Jarman Award 2012)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2013 3 mins

The concluding episode in Anja Kirschner and David Panos' series of films on the Greek financial crisis.

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An Exchange for Fire: Non-Citizens (Film London Jarman Award 2012) An Exchange for Fire: Non-Citizens (Film London Jarman Award 2012)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2012 3 mins

The global financial crisis viewed through the prism of modern Greece.

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The Paramnesiac (Film London Jarman Award 2010) The Paramnesiac (Film London Jarman Award 2010)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2010 4 mins

The instability of memory comes to the fore when artist Lindsay Seers' step-sister Christine is involved in a moped accident which severely damages her memory.

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Serios/Seers (Film London Jarman Award 2010) Serios/Seers (Film London Jarman Award 2010)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2010 3 mins

Writer M. Anthony Penwill, an occult photography expert, recalls how his meeting with Ted Serios led him to encounter the artist Lindsay Seers.

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Carlyle's Hands 1 (Film London Jarman Award 2011) Carlyle's Hands 1 (Film London Jarman Award 2011)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2011 3 mins

Eitienne, a neuroscientist who is working around ideas of self awareness, is haunted by his patient, who he calls 'Marathon Man' a man who cannot move his own body unless he sees it.

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Carlyle's Hands 2 (Film London Jarman Award 2011) Carlyle's Hands 2 (Film London Jarman Award 2011)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2011 3 mins

In the second in the series of Emily Wardill films, Eitienne the neuroscientist meets Georgia, a woman with whom he is able to connect and they fall in love.

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Carlyle's Hands 3 (Film London Jarman Award 2011) Carlyle's Hands 3 (Film London Jarman Award 2011)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2011 3 mins

Eitienne's dates with different women explore proprioception through a contemporary situation.

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Carlyle's Hands 5 (Film London Jarman Award 2011) Carlyle's Hands 5 (Film London Jarman Award 2011)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2011 3 mins

An overworked neuroscientist is encouraged to begin online dating.

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Carlyle's Hands 4 (Film London Jarman Award 2011) Carlyle's Hands 4 (Film London Jarman Award 2011)

Animation & Artists Moving Image 2011 3 mins

Eitienne the neuroscientist delivers a lecture to students that explores ideas of self-awareness.

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Never Go with Strangers Never Go with Strangers

Documentary 1971 18 mins

Is this the scariest public information film ever? This hard-hitting warning against 'stranger danger' was considered too distressing to be broadcast on television.

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Near Home Near Home

Government sponsored film 1949 24 mins Location: Bishop Auckland

A rare outing for a 1945 drama documentary on local studies education in Bishop Auckland by one of Britain's pioneering women directors.

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Edinburgh Edinburgh

Documentary 1934 10 mins Silent Location: Edinburgh

Bonnie Edinburgh - a picturesque promotional film to attract tourists to the Scottish capital

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Lady Lazarus Lady Lazarus

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1991 24 mins

A cinematographic response to Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus with Plath’s own readings of her poetry

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The Body Beautiful The Body Beautiful

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1990 24 mins

Autobiographical account of a mother-daughter relationship, exploring beauty standards and female sexuality.

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Two Legs...Three Widows...And a near Miss Two Legs...Three Widows...And a near Miss

Documentary 1977 20 mins

Vivid and alarming safety film shot at Teversal, Thoresby and Welbeck Collieries in Nottinghamshire.

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Ebb-tide Ebb-tide

Documentary 1936 9 mins Location: Millport

Go with the flow: the marine life of Millport, Ayrshire, ingeniously filmed.

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Fatima's Letter Fatima's Letter

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1992 20 mins

A woman remembers her past while travelling on the London Underground

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A Family Called Abrew A Family Called Abrew

Biopic 1992 40 mins

Meet the Abrews, a unique showbiz family whose imprint on British culture began in Scotland in the 19th century

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Bri-nylon and bri-lon at the Royal Albert Hall Bri-nylon and bri-lon at the Royal Albert Hall

Promotional 1961 7 mins Location: Royal Albert Hall

A parade of colourful fashions wearing their synthetic brand with pride

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Home Away from Home Home Away from Home

1993 11 mins

A powerfully bittersweet image of the loneliness and sacrifice in migration stories, centred on a Nigerian-British family

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Somersetshire Dairy Farming Somersetshire Dairy Farming

1937 12 mins Location: Bleadon

Milky movie: close-up on Somerset's changing milk and cheese industry

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Plan to Work On Plan to Work On

Documentary 1948 33 mins Location: Dunfermline

Kay Mander's film about the planning for Dunfermline’s post-war reconstruction is a fascinating record of the idealism of mid-20th-century town planning.

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Quiet Morning Quiet Morning

School programme and Educational film 1955 11 mins Location: Finchley

Everyday family life in suburban North London - as seen by folk learning English in the 1950s.

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The Christmas Visitor The Christmas Visitor

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1958 7 mins

The Night Before Christmas meets Toy Story in this charming British cartoon from 1958.

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Cycling Proficiency Scheme: Father and Son Cycling Proficiency Scheme: Father and Son

Advert 1959 1 mins

"Dad... I want a bike!” Fun animated campaign aimed at 50s parents and their over-eager offspring.

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Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard Carnival in the Clothes Cupboard

Advert 1941 6 mins

A cartoon fantasy brings fabric patterns to life in a literal soap opera - yet even here the reality of Home Front life creeps in

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Charley's Black Magic Charley's Black Magic

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1949 9 mins

Cartoon propaganda short sweetens the pill of post-war coal prices by promising jam tomorrow

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Cold Comfort Cold Comfort

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1944 1 mins

A dancing radio stops partying to transmit an announcement on fuel conservation in this WWII cartoon short

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Compost Heap Compost Heap

Government sponsored film 1942 2 mins

A talking cabbage plant will win you over in this Second World War cartoon trailer, which has a surprising charm.

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4 and 20 Fit Girls 4 and 20 Fit Girls

1940 11 mins Silent

Flock to your local keep fit class - there's a war on and Britain needs its citizens in tip-top shape.

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Nursery Island Nursery Island

Documentary 1936 18 mins Location: Farne Islands

The birdlife of Northumberland's Farne Islands comes under the spotlight in this pioneering documentary from the Secrets of Life nature series.

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Wisdom of the Wild Wisdom of the Wild

Documentary 1940 12 mins

Fun mixture of natural history and wartime public information.

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London Pigeon London Pigeon

Documentary 1940 9 mins Location: Westminster

Urban nature explored in this wonderful short film looking at the lives, habits and habitats of London’s pigeon population.

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Market Town Market Town

Travelogue 1942 10 mins Location: Newark-on-Trent

Rise and shine! Newark market calls with a seductive array of produce.

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Mrs. T. And Her Cabbage Patch Mrs. T. And Her Cabbage Patch

Public Information Filler 1941 12 mins

Poetic tribute to Mrs Turner's vegetable growing prowess, plus the delights of "wartime steaks"

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Civilian Front Civilian Front

War 1940 10 mins

It's all action on the home front with civilians on high alert to support the war effort.

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Double Thread Double Thread

Documentary 1943 33 mins Location: Guildford

The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds (1940s-style) at a nursery in Guildford.

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The Way We Live The Way We Live

War 1946 64 mins Location: Plymouth

This stylish film shows the cramped life of one family in post-war Plymouth, and expands on the contentious plans for the city's rebuilding.

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Out of Chaos Out of Chaos

Documentary 1944 27 mins Location: Trafalgar Square

"Why in the height of a world war, should there be this terrific interest in painting?"

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Once We Were Four Once We Were Four

Documentary 1942 9 mins

Innocent bunnies face an onslaught of badgers, bombs and birds of prey in this black comedy masquerading as a nature film.

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Boy and the Cat Boy and the Cat

Amateur film 1976 10 mins Location: South Shields

A boy and his cat make mischief in the snow at South Shields in this captivating hand-drawn childrens animation created by Sheila Graber.

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Toys Will Be Toys Toys Will Be Toys

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”.

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Christmas Around the World Christmas Around the World

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1978 5 mins Location: South Shields

Chomping alligators, a boomerang throwing kangaroo, a turkey in Turkey, and an angry lion, all mollified by a world touring, bumbling Santa.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas The Twelve Days of Christmas

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 4 mins Location: South Shields

A classic Christmas carol brought joyously to life in this engaging and colourful Sheila Graber animation, with help from her school class.

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Larn Yersel' Geordie Larn Yersel' Geordie

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Learn how to speak Geordie with a riotous animation of Scott Dobsons popular vernacular lessons.

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My River Tyne My River Tyne

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1986 7 mins Location: South Shields

An unusual mix of pastel, photos, film and line drawings conjures a story of the River Tyne, from its source at the Scottish border to its mouth at South Shields.

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Howway the Lasses Howway the Lasses

Animation & Artists Moving Image 1977 1 mins Location: Northumberland

This jaunty hand-drawn animation charts the history of womens revolutionary road to freedom in the North East - from Stone Age sister to suffragette of the twentieth century.

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Code Name: Westward Ho! Code Name: Westward Ho!

Documentary 1949 11 mins

"They’re not so very different from our own people, are they?" A sensitive depiction of European workers in the UK.

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Critical Harvest Critical Harvest

Government sponsored film 1946 9 mins

Appeal for energetic city workers to get out to farms in their spare time to help out with the harvest of 1946.

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Deep Dig Deep Dig

Documentary 1957 20 mins

Epic undertaking at Bevercotes Colliery, digging 3000 feet to reach untapped coal seams in Nottinghamshire.

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How to File How to File

Industry sponsored film 1941 8 mins

Listen up, apprentices! Learn how to smooth and shape metal – an important wartime skill.

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The Tough 'un The Tough 'un

1938 10 mins

Startlingly beautiful time-lapse photography of the gardener’s nemesis – the dandelion – and finally, a solution?

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Southern Seaside Southern Seaside

Travelogue 1935 15 mins Silent Location: Bournemouth

Anyone for a trip to the seaside? From Bournemouth to Margate via Brighton and Folkestone – sunny delights in abundance.

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Stooking and Stacking Stooking and Stacking

Documentary 1943 12 mins

Are your stooking and stacking skills poor? Watch and learn how best to stack your stooks.

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Spring on the Farm Spring on the Farm

Documentary 1933 8 mins

The exhilaration of spring in the country – blossom, piglets, ducklings and more delights on the farm.

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Victory Wedding Victory Wedding

Public Information Filler 1944 18 mins

Much loved actress Jessie Matthews directs this action-packed wartime short starring John Mills and Dulcie Gray.

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What's for Dinner What's for Dinner

Documentary 1940 9 mins

Could the perennial question of what to cook for dinner have been solved forever?

More women's filmmaking in our collection The Camera Is Ours: Britain's Women Documentary Makers

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