All articles about BFI National Archive

Object of the week

Object of the week: Modernist brochure for the Film Society revealing its historic first 100 screenings

Designed by celebrated graphic artist Edward McKnight Kauffer, this 1938 brochure commemorated the 100th screening of the Film Society, the influential bohemian group who revolutionised film appreciation in the UK.

By Bryony Dixon

Object of the week: Modernist brochure for the Film Society revealing its historic first 100 screenings

Rarities of British cinema

The one-and-done directorial debut that sparkles with audacity and risqué humour

By Josephine Botting

The one-and-done directorial debut that sparkles with audacity and risqué humour

Object of the week

Object of the week: The state-of-the art scanner transforming the art of film preservation

By David Jones

Object of the week: The state-of-the art scanner transforming the art of film preservation

Object of the week

Object of the week: The Academy Cinema’s bespoke posters for Seven Samurai and other arthouse classics

By Melanie Williams

Object of the week: The Academy Cinema’s bespoke posters for Seven Samurai and other arthouse classics

Object of the week

Object of the week: Derek Jarman’s workbook for Blue

By Tabitha Austin

Object of the week: Derek Jarman’s workbook for Blue

Features

9.5mm: the first popular format to bring watching films into the home

By Rosie Taylor

9.5mm: the first popular format to bring watching films into the home

Object of the week

Object of the week: Signed cast and crew photo from 1940s hit melodrama The Seventh Veil

By Melanie Williams

Object of the week: Signed cast and crew photo from 1940s hit melodrama The Seventh Veil

Object of the week

Object of the week: An unscreened TV interview with 1960s women’s tennis champion Ann Jones

By Lisa Kerrigan

Object of the week: An unscreened TV interview with 1960s women’s tennis champion Ann Jones

Rarities of British cinema

The British New Wave outlier that tested Laurence Olivier

By Josephine Botting

The British New Wave outlier that tested Laurence Olivier

Object of the week

Object of the week: The film that launched Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

By Steven Foxon

Object of the week: The film that launched Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

Object of the week

Object of the week: Douglas Slocombe’s home movie from the making of Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt

By Josephine Botting

Object of the week: Douglas Slocombe’s home movie from the making of Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt

Object of the week

The mystery 1967 ‘music video’ for The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’

By William Fowler

The mystery 1967 ‘music video’ for The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’

Features

“I have made so little”: what the archives of two women filmmakers tell us about the film industry

By Jessica Boyall

“I have made so little”: what the archives of two women filmmakers tell us about the film industry

Rarities of British cinema

The saucy British comedy that sold out cinemas in post-war New York

By Josephine Botting

The saucy British comedy that sold out cinemas in post-war New York

Object of the week

Object of the week: Behind-the-scenes shots from the making of the first British Asian feature film

By Melanie Williams

Object of the week: Behind-the-scenes shots from the making of the first British Asian feature film

Object of the week

Object of the week: Ealing’s poster for the classic police drama The Blue Lamp

By Melanie Williams

Object of the week: Ealing’s poster for the classic police drama The Blue Lamp

Object of the week

Object of the week: 97-year-old footage of a Man Utd vs Man City clash

By Ros Cranston

Object of the week: 97-year-old footage of a Man Utd vs Man City clash

News

BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Tina Gharavi donates personal collection to the BFI National Archive

Object of the week

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

By Nathalie Morris

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

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

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

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

Lists

The best British TV of 2025

By Chantelle Lavel Boyea, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2025

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

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

Object of the week

Object of the week: A hand-painted still for Michael Powell’s Hebridean romance The Edge of the World

By Alex Prideaux

Object of the week: A hand-painted still for Michael Powell’s Hebridean romance The Edge of the World

Object of the week

Object of the week: The oldest film in our archive

By Bryony Dixon

Object of the week: The oldest film in our archive

Railway 200

Train cels: how British animators have captured the enduring appeal of railway travel

By Jez Stewart

Train cels: how British animators have captured the enduring appeal of railway travel

Object of the week

Object of the week: The Polish poster for Sidney Poitier drama To Sir, with Love

By Nathalie Morris

Object of the week: The Polish poster for Sidney Poitier drama To Sir, with Love