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Collections
Unpublished materials
These are extensive collections of papers donated by individuals and organisations involved in film and television. We currently hold over 600 named collections.
A detailed catalogue for many of these collections is available to consult in the Library Reading Room. If you are unable to visit the Library you can contact Special Collections staff in advance to discuss your research needs.
We concentrate mainly on British cinema and television and there are over a hundred major collections, including:
Associated Rediffusion Television, Sir Michael Balcon, British Board of Film Censors/Classification, The Film Society 1925-1939: a guide to collections (PDF, 481kb), Trevor Griffiths, Derek Jarman, Sir David Lean, Joseph Losey, Troy Kennedy Martin, Ivor Montagu, Michael Powell, Lord Puttnam, Emeric Pressburger, Sir Carol Reed, Karel Reisz, John Schlesinger, Irene Shubik, Gerald Thomas.
The materials are kept in controlled conditions outside London and must be ordered in advance. Please contact the Special Collections Unit if you wish to view these materials.
Ephemera
We hold large collections of cinema ephemera including programmes, tickets, autographed letters and promotional material.
Publicity materials
We hold a range of publicity materials including:
- Press releases (approximately 500,000)
- Press or campaign books (often illustrated) (approximately 30,000)
Many of the press books are available on microfiche. These can be requested via the BFI National Library Reading Room on the day of your visit.
For original copies of press books, please contact the Special Collections Unit and allow up to one week.
Find out more about our publicity materials with this BFI screenonline tour.
Unpublished scripts
Over 30,000 unpublished scripts are held in all.
The majority are film scripts but we also have a growing collection of television scripts. Most are British or American. Our holdings range from silent film scenarios to contemporary films, and include production and post-production scripts, handwritten treatments and personal annotated shooting scripts.
Scripts can be searched through the Special Collections database in the BFI National Library Reading Room.
Scripts are stored outside London and need to be ordered in advance. Please allow up to one week.
The rights holder's permission must be obtained in writing if photocopies are required. This service is also dependent on the condition of the original.
