Free
Free
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

Dover, Spring 1947Dover, Spring 1947
Documentary194711 mins Location: Dover
Dover gets a makeover in this offbeat and pointed public information film.

Riding the Boundaries Morpeth. April 24th 1924Riding the Boundaries Morpeth. April 24th 1924
Non-Fiction19246 minsSilent Location: Morpeth
Morpeth locals brave the gloomy weather and get in the saddle for a traditional boundary ride.

Spring Time in LakelandSpring Time in Lakeland
Amateur film195212 minsSilent Location: Brothers Water
Come and celebrate the joys of spring out and about in the Lakes.

Isles of Scilly - DaffodilsIsles of Scilly - Daffodils
School programme and Educational film196017 minsSilent Location: Isles of Scilly
This should be a ‘scatch-and-sniff' film, so viewers can enjoy the scent of the daffodils whilst seeing them harvested and packed for export.

Spring Comes to EnglandSpring Comes to England
Government sponsored film193416 mins Location: Isles of Scilly
Farming techniques and modern methods bring new crops to market.

Certain Day in April 1927Certain Day in April 1927
Non-Fiction19271 minsSilent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
A never-to-be-forgotten day for Cardiff City fans, when their football team return home with the FA Cup after a 1-0 win against Arsenal at Wembley on 23/4/1927.

NiceNice
Drama198426 mins
Monologue about a "nice" West Indian and his descent into postcolonial cynicism, performed by the legendary Norman Beaton.

Divide and Rule - Never!Divide and Rule - Never!
Documentary197841 mins
Young working class Londoners fight racism with the power of rock and reggae in this anarchic documentary.

Cedar Wood & SilkCedar Wood & Silk
199514 mins
Insightful exploration of the relationship between a Jamaican mother and her British-born daughter.

Top DeckTop Deck
Drama196230 minsSilent
A woman bus conductor struggles to ignore her black American army officer lover.

KangaKanga
Drama-documentary199215 mins Location: Brixton
Early 90s London gets a vibrant dose of African culture in this mini odyssey fusing dance, music and fashion.

Tunde's FilmTunde's Film
Documentary drama197440 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.

You and Your HealthYou and Your Health
Documentary197922 mins
The Community Health Council of Wales blows its own trumpet in myriad ways, including animation, to draw attention to their NHS advisory service.

Organ Donor Card: Organ BoxOrgan Donor Card: Organ Box
19931 mins
An urgently filmed appeal for organ donation.

The British Way of HealthThe British Way of Health
Documentary197327 mins Location: London
A portrayal of the NHS which shows off the “marvellous” system to audiences around the world.

Back to the CommunityBack to the Community
Documentary198629 mins Location: Bolton
Local authorities trial the Thatcher government’s new ‘care in the community’ initiative.

Tracing the Spread of InfectionTracing the Spread of Infection
Documentary194923 mins
Doctors undertake forensic-style detective work to identify the origins of outbreaks, in the fascinating film from the early days of the NHS.

The Strange Case of Penny AllisonThe Strange Case of Penny Allison
Government sponsored film200218 mins
Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie as you've not quite seen them before: in a comedy training video for Britain’s National Blood Service.
Featured collections

Inside Film
The camera flips inward to film the creative process. Watch exclusive Q&As, documentaries and special features from the artists and obsessives who make the films.

Films For Fives and Under
Watch with grown-ups: a fun selection of films for supervised viewing by 3-5 year olds and the young at heart.

Wedding Bells
It's the big day and you're invited: a multitude of marriages, caught on film since the 1910s.