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Explore archive films
See shorts and features, showing the best from the BFI, national and regional archives - including 120 years of Britain on film

What we're watching

Pride in London 1975Pride in London 1975
Amateur film19751 minsSilent Location: Shepherd's Bush
A short but sweet show of stylish and colourful characters, parading to bring pride and power to the queer community in Central London.

School Sports DaySchool Sports Day
Home movie19733 minsSilent Location: Enfield
Colourful and lively home movie record of garden activities and school sports day in Enfield Town Park.

Colourful WimbledonColourful Wimbledon
Sport195447 mins Location: Hampton
Wimbledon 1954, from the meticulous preparation of the 16 tennis courts to the finals and the glory on Centre Court.

Hot DogsHot Dogs
Documentary197010 mins Location: Bingley
The quirks of a whippet race, with novices in winklepickers learning from the old hands, all fully elucidated in broad West Yorkshire dialect.

Quite Unfit for FemalesQuite Unfit for Females
Non-Fiction19211 mins
A light-hearted newsreel item on the Football Association's proposed ban on women's football in 1921.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&ATwin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film202538 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Festival Fever
From deep-rooted folk traditions to youth culture happenings: a celebration of the music and arts festivals of summers past.

Scunthorpe International Folk FestivalScunthorpe International Folk Festival
Non-Fiction19694 minsSilent Location: Scunthorpe
It’s the year of famous music festivals, and Scunthorpe has a rare opportunity to see some colourful national dress, dancing and folk music.

RaveRave
Documentary199712 mins
Partying like it's 1997. We follow a rave DJ instigator rigging up decks in abandoned warehouses, a nosebleed 'techno tourist' who chases the hardcore around Europe and a girl addicted to... partying.

Haytor Love-inHaytor Love-in
Current affairs19671 minsSilent Location: Haytor Rocks
Hippies gather in Flower Power Love-in on Dartmoor’s Haytor

West Indian CarnivalWest Indian Carnival
News19806 mins Location: Leeds
In this celebratory short film, Leeds is transformed with colour and spectacle during the annual West Indian Carnival.

Self-Conscious Over YouSelf-Conscious Over You
Documentary198040 mins Location: Belfast
Witness The Outcasts at their incendiary best in this thrilling concert film

Minehead's Obby Oss FestivalMinehead's Obby Oss Festival
Current affairs19772 minsSilent Location: Minehead
A-maying at the Obby Oss Festival
Queer Britain
A colourful and challenging collection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.

What's a Girl Like You ...What's a Girl Like You ...
Documentary196952 mins Location: Vauxhall
Scintillating look at the 1960s drag renaissance, with a visit to London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

Gay Black GroupGay Black Group
Magazine and Review show198325 mins Location: Bloomsbury
The Gay Black Group - reasserting culture and identity on two levels.

We Who Have FriendsWe Who Have Friends
Documentary196949 mins Location: London
A fascinating and important film on attitudes towards homosexuality, and what it was like to be gay, shortly after it was partially legalised.

A Couple of BeautiesA Couple of Beauties
Comedy197229 mins
Innuendo-laden crime caper, a star vehicle for Manchester-based drag queen Bunny Lewis

Scarborough Ahoy!Scarborough Ahoy!
Drama199433 mins Location: Scarborough
A straight woman and a gay man cruise their way across North East England in this Tennessee Williams-inspired short.

Layla - Exclusive Q&ALayla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202527 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

Loyle Carner - The CutLoyle Carner - The Cut
Short documentary20188 mins
Mercury Prize-nominated musician Loyle Carner reveals compelling films that have inspired him and his work.

Joanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&AJoanna Scanlan - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202451 mins
Actor and writer Joanna Scanlan talks to Mia Bays, director of the BFI's Filmmaking Fund, about her career in film and television.

Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&AStarve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview202424 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&AGetting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film202422 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&ATwin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film202538 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Featured collections

Queer Britain
This colourful and challenging collection explores screen representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives over the past century.

Other Grooves
An eccentric excursion to the furthest fringes of youth culture and alternative lifestyles, as captured in archive film and TV.

Before Windrush
Precious glimpses and surprising rediscoveries: snapshots of black Britain in the decades before the great postwar migrations.