Special Collections

Special Collections holds a unique and diverse collection of cinema and television ephemera. It includes personal and working papers from individuals and organisations involved in film and TV production. The collections also include programmes, tickets, autographed letters and promotional material, including over 30,000 press books and other cinema memorabilia.

There are donations from Sir Michael Balcon, Derek Jarman, Joseph Losey, Lord Puttnam, Sir Carol Reed, John Schlesinger and many, many others. In total there are over 600 named collections as well as a collection of over 30,000 unpublished film and TV scripts from Britain and around the world.

Special Collections holds paper materials only. For Stills, Posters and Designs and for information about films and television programmes held by the BFI National Archive, please see BFI National Archive pages.

Viewing the collections

Special Collections are available to view by appointment. We are currently open to researchers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10:30am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 5:30pm. On Wednesdays we are open from 2:00pm - 5:30pm.

Special Collections can be searched via database or paper catalogue in the BFI National Library Reading Room. You can also contact Special Collections and we will endeavour to answer your query as quickly as possible.

Unpublished scripts and press books can be viewed via the BFI National Library Reading Room and do not require an appointment. Many of our press books are held on microfiche within the Library's collections but for press books stored off-site, and for unpublished scripts, please allow up to one week. Unpublished scripts and press books can be requested via the Reading Room or directly through Special Collections.

BFI Special Collections
21 Stephen Street, London W1T 1LN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7957 4772
Email: speccoll@bfi.org.uk