Rentals

Northern Voices

Exploring the northern talent and creativity that drive such distinctive storytelling.

Filmakers from northern England such as Clio Barnard, Terrence Davies and Mark Herman have long mined northern culture to inform their work and imbue it with a sense of place and authenticity, as well as those who've adapted literary works from esteemed northern writers such as Stan Barstow (A Kind of Loving), John Brophy (Waterfront) and Keith Waterhouse (Billy Liar).

Accompanying our BFI Southbank season, this collection examines what representations of ‘the north’ tell us about how we view this region of the UK.

God's Own CountryGod's Own Country

Drama2017105 minsDirector: Francis Lee

A troubled young sheep farmer falls for a hired hand in this stunning debut from Francis Lee.

Rent for £3.50

Ali & AvaAli & Ava

Drama202094 minsDirector: Clio Barnard

Clio Barnard’s latest film is a tremendously warm and tenderly written love story.

Rent for £3.50

Dark RiverDark River

Drama201889 minsDirector: Clio Barnard

Clio Barnard follows The Selfish Giant and The Arbor with this searing and eloquent Yorkshire-set drama exploring the fragility of familial relationships.

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Brassed OffBrassed Off

Drama1996107 minsDirector: Mark Herman

Pete Postlethwaite stars in this emotional drama about members of a colliery brass band who learn their mine may soon be closing.

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Billy LiarBilly Liar

Comedy196398 minsSilentDirector: John Schlesinger

Tom Courtenay is the clerk whose overactive fantasies compensate for a dull provincial life, in this classic film from the British New Wave.

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Of Time and the CityOf Time and the City

Documentary200874 minsDirector: Terence Davies

Brilliantly mixing archive film and music, Liverpool-born director Terence Davies reflects with wit and wisdom on a times of change, for good or ill

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Rita, Sue and Bob TooRita, Sue and Bob Too

Drama198793 minsDirector: Alan Clarke

A married man seduces two teenage babysitters in Alan Clarke’s mix of bawdy comedy and social comment, based on Andrea Dunbar’s Bradford plays.

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The Selfish GiantThe Selfish Giant

Drama201391 minsDirector: Clio Barnard

Two Yorkshire tearaways struggle with life and friendship in this challenging, compassionate growing-up tale by the director of The Arbor.

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Grow Your OwnGrow Your Own

Comedy200797 minsDirector: Richard Laxton

A group of Merseyside gardeners take umbrage to the arrival of some refugees, but they find common cause to resist a devious corporate takeover.

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East Is EastEast Is East

Comedy199997 minsDirector: Damien O'Donnell

Damien O'Donnell's charming comedy-drama about Zaheed Khan (Om Puri), the patriarch of a Pakistani-British family whose children begin to reject their heritage and embrace UK life.

Rent for £3.50

A Kind of LovingA Kind of Loving

Drama1962113 minsDirector: John Schlesinger

John Schlesinger makes his feature film debut with this adaptation of Stan Barstow’s novel about a factory worker (Alan Bates) and his complicated relationship to a typist (June Ritchie) who he doesn’t fully love.

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TyrannosaurTyrannosaur

Drama201192 minsDirector: Paddy Considine

Paddy Considine’s powerful feature debut, featuring astonishingly strong performances from Olivia Colman and Peter Mullan.

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The ViolatorsThe Violators

Drama201696 minsDirector: Helen Walsh

In this spiky and stylish debut from novelist Helen Walsh, two girls from different backgrounds form an unlikely bond, setting off on a dangerous course.

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JourneymanJourneyman

Drama201892 minsDirector: Paddy Considine

Paddy Considine directs and stars with Jodie Whittaker in this emotional knockout - the story of a boxer rebuilding his life after a near-fatal injury.