BFI Mediatheque

Mediatheque at BFI Southbank is the place to view over 180,000 titles from the BFI National Archive, one of the world’s most important and diverse collections of film and television. It’s free and everyone’s welcome – whether you’re studying, researching or just want to be entertained.

• Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 9pm
• closed on Mondays, except Bank Holidays

Please be aware that the Mediatheque may close occasionally for private bookings and events. If you are planning a special trip to view Mediatheque content, please contact the BFI Reuben Library – to double check that the space is open on the dates you require.

On Mondays during term time we offer group bookings for visiting schools. To enquire about such a visit please email schools@bfi.org.uk.

As the BFI National Archive’s long weekend of screenings projected from archive film prints returns to BFI Southbank, learn more about the lineup’s films and filmmakers and the film preservation process – with works ranging from The Galaxy Britain Built: The British Force Behind Star Wars to Jon Ronson’s Kubrick’s Boxes to the 1988 documentary Ouaga: African Cinema Now.

A career retrospective showcasing the work of the pioneering female animator who died last year, including her final finished film, the National Lottery-funded Beware of Trains (2022).

Exploring decades of looking for love on the small screen, from Blind Date to Streetmate and beyond.

Retrace the Fab Four’s rise to superstardom across decades of television programmes, films and documentaries, including archive news reports from the 1960s and the landmark Anthology series.

Dive into highlights from the National Lottery-funded Our Screen Heritage Project’s collection of online video works, including the viral memes ‘Badgers’ and ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’, video essays from Tom Scott and Rowan Ellis, and the comedy skits, Vines and Twitch livestreams of Brian ‘Limmy’ Limond.

• choose a booth and touch the screen to start your viewing. Headphones are provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own, wired headphones if you prefer
• the space is deep cleaned overnight and hand sanitiser is available for your use
• there are no longer any power outlets available in the booths of the BFI Mediatheque space. If you are coming to the BFI Mediatheque for research purposes, please ensure your personal devices are fully charged before arrival

New titles are added regularly, thanks to National Lottery funding, which supports our digitisation of film and TV material at risk of being lost or forgotten.

We can’t make most of these titles available to watch at home due to rights restrictions, so the only way to access the full range of remarkable stories is to visit the Mediatheque in person.

From the earliest surviving TV plays and pioneering documentaries to episodes of cult kids’ TV and hard-to-find sitcoms.

Transport yourself to the dawn of cinema in the 1890s.

Get a crash course in British cinema or revisit those iconic big-screen moments.

Travel round Britain sampling life through the decades.

Catch up on your 21st-century favourites, including episodes of prestige drama, current affairs and game shows.

Nostalgic parent or first-time viewer, there’s something for kids of all ages.