The BFI Filmography project ran from 2012 to 2017, with these main aims:
- identify all film works that meet the inclusion criteria – British, feature-length, released in cinemas
- catalogue those works to a high standard, including detailed cast and crew information
- publish the data online to enable researchers to interrogate it – this was achieved with the BFI Filmography data visualisation platform
In 2022, five years after completing the project, the BFI Filmography data visualisation platform was taken offline. The data is stored permanently in the BFI National Archive’s Collections Information Database, and we are considering long-term options for developing an interface for exploring that data. Meanwhile, the Collections Information Database has an online version, where you can search across the BFI National Archive’s collections data.
BFI Filmography project overview
BFI Head of Data Stephen McConnachie explains how the Filmography was created from historical data sources and the definitions of criteria for inclusion.
Find out moreBFI Filmography FAQ
How to use the Filmography, what it can be used for, and answers to your questions.
Find out moreBFI Filmography Gender Data Research FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the BFI Filmography gender data research.
Find out moreFurther reading
Infographic: The true picture for black actors in the UK film industry
By Melanie Hoyes