Special Collections

Special Collections holds a unique and diverse collection of film and TV ephemera. It includes personal and working papers from individuals and organisations involved in film and TV production. The collections also hold programmes, tickets, autographed letters and promotional material, as well as over 20,000 pressbooks and other cinema memorabilia.

There are donations from Sir Carol Reed, Lord Puttnam, Joseph Losey, Derek Jarman, Michael Balcon and many others. In total there are 500 collections, including a collection of over 20,000 unpublished film and TV scripts from Britain and around the world.

Special Collections holds memorabilia only. For information about films and television programmes held by the BFI National Archive, please see BFI National Archive pages.

Viewing the collections

Important notice

Due to staffing changes we regret to inform you that we will be temporarily unable to accept any requests for Special Collections materials until the beginning of October 2008, with the exception of unpublished scripts. Pressbooks may also be ordered where no microfiche copy exists.

Please note that requests for unpublished scripts and pressbooks may take longer than usual to be fulfilled.

To order these please fill the relevant request slips when you visit the Reading Room or contact Special Collections direct.

bfi Special Collections

21 Stephen Street

London W1T 1LN

Tel: 020 7957 4772

Fax: 020 7436 2338

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