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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

Getting Ready for Cup FinalGetting Ready for Cup Final
Non-Fiction19231 minsSilent Location: Wembley Stadium
A lovely shot of Wembley Stadium mid-construction, with an aerial camera panning round the ground to show its half-built state.

Trigger Films on Mental HealthTrigger Films on Mental Health
Documentary197717 mins
Watch out for the early use of fishing as Mindfulness in this slow-paced reflection on mental health.

The Great GameThe Great Game
Sport194630 mins
A portrait of the beautiful game of association football as Britain emerged from WWII.

May is OutMay is Out
Non-Fiction19503 minsSilent Location: Yorkshire and the Humber
A skilled sheep shearer demonstrates that a sheep can be hand sheared very quickly, keeping the coat in one piece, and, hopefully, without causing too much distress to the sheep.

Fight for the F.A. CupFight for the F.A. Cup
Sport196342 mins
The best of the action from over 30 years of FA Cup finals at Wembley Stadium.

May Day PoniesMay Day Ponies
News19744 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.

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.