Features and reviews

Discover the latest from the BFI, the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image.

Object of the week

Object of the week: Original budget breakdown for Black Narcissus – who got paid what

This 1947 budget sheet for Black Narcissus shows exactly where the money went on Powell and Pressburger’s classic tale of nuns in the Himalayas.

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Original budget breakdown for Black Narcissus – who got paid what

Then and now

David Lynch in London: how The Elephant Man locations have changed today

By Adam Scovell

David Lynch in London: how The Elephant Man locations have changed today

Object of the week

Object of the week: Lotte Reiniger’s cut-out figures and backgrounds for Cinderella

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Lotte Reiniger’s cut-out figures and backgrounds for Cinderella

Obituaries

Brigitte Bardot obituary: French star who redefined female sexuality on screen

By Ginette Vincendeau

Brigitte Bardot obituary: French star who redefined female sexuality on screen

Then and now

Ghost Stories for Christmas: how TV’s most haunting locations look today

By Adam Scovell

Ghost Stories for Christmas: how TV’s most haunting locations look today

Object of the week

Object of the week: Mid-century Christmas card designs by Ealing Studios

By Kay Eldridge

Object of the week: Mid-century Christmas card designs by Ealing Studios

Features

2025 – the year in video games: Switch 2, indie big-hitters and Fortnite devours all

By Stuart Burnside

2025 – the year in video games: Switch 2, indie big-hitters and Fortnite devours all

Railway 200

Railway 200: In praise of TV’s most famous locomotive

By Elinor Groom

Railway 200: In praise of TV’s most famous locomotive

Rarities of British cinema

Peggy Cummins and her glitzy family melodrama My Daughter Joy

By Josephine Botting

Peggy Cummins and her glitzy family melodrama My Daughter Joy

Features

“A masterclass of emotion”: Molly Haskell on Sentimental Value

By Molly Haskell

“A masterclass of emotion”: Molly Haskell on Sentimental Value

Features

Memories, traditions, moments: the joys of watching films at Christmas

Object of the week

Object of the week: Haunting photos of empty sets for Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Haunting photos of empty sets for Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Obituaries

Rob Reiner obituary: Hollywood director behind a golden run of 1980s and 90s classics

By Adam Nayman

Rob Reiner obituary: Hollywood director behind a golden run of 1980s and 90s classics

Black Film Bulletin

Take a chance: what Tanzania taught me about storytelling, legacy and opportunity

By Simone Pennant

Take a chance: what Tanzania taught me about storytelling, legacy and opportunity

Black Film Bulletin

Black Debutantes: Black women directors in a season of rediscovery and celebration

By Rógan Graham

Black Debutantes: Black women directors in a season of rediscovery and celebration

Features

Faith, desire and defiance: revisiting Antonia Bird’s controversial drama Priest

By Ibrahim Azam

Faith, desire and defiance: revisiting Antonia Bird’s controversial drama Priest

Object of the week

Object of the week: Cecil Beaton’s costume design for Vivien Leigh as Anna Karenina

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Cecil Beaton’s costume design for Vivien Leigh as Anna Karenina

Then and now

70 years of The Ladykillers: how the locations look today

By Adam Scovell

70 years of The Ladykillers: how the locations look today

Features

Time Crisis at 30: how peekaboo with guns put cabinet gaming back on target

By George Bass

Time Crisis at 30: how peekaboo with guns put cabinet gaming back on target

Features

And the winner is… One Battle After Another

By Michael Koresky

And the winner is… One Battle After Another

Then and now

In search of the locations for Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession

By Adam Scovell

In search of the locations for Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession

Object of the week

Object of the week: Dirk Bogarde’s annotated script for classic blackmail drama Victim

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Dirk Bogarde’s annotated script for classic blackmail drama Victim

Features

Richard Burton’s power was in his weakness

By Chloe Walker

Richard Burton’s power was in his weakness

Rarities of British cinema

The White Unicorn: a “tale of babies, boudoirs, lingerie, misunderstanding husbands”

By Josephine Botting

The White Unicorn: a “tale of babies, boudoirs, lingerie, misunderstanding husbands”

Features

Around the world in melodrama: 9 countries, 45 essential films

By Camilla Baier, John Berra and others

Around the world in melodrama: 9 countries, 45 essential films

Features

Ryan Coogler’s advice to young filmmakers: “Find people that are kind of your level, who could use your help”

By Aminah Alhamdu

Ryan Coogler’s advice to young filmmakers: “Find people that are kind of your level, who could use your help”

Object of the week

Object of the week: Production design for The L-Shaped Room

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: Production design for The L-Shaped Room

Festivals

The power of film: co-founders Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer on the international film festival 16 Days 16 Films

By Baneet Sarai

The power of film: co-founders Ginta Gelvan and Johanna von Fischer on the international film festival 16 Days 16 Films

Then and now

The Ealing comedy that shows how the Wirral used to be: The Magnet at 75

By Adam Scovell

The Ealing comedy that shows how the Wirral used to be: The Magnet at 75

From the Sight and Sound archive

“I want a formally perfect film”: Pier Paolo Pasolini on the making of Salò

By Gideon Bachmann

“I want a formally perfect film”: Pier Paolo Pasolini on the making of Salò