Bryony Dixon

Bryony is Curator of Silent Film at the BFI. She has researched and written on many aspects of early and silent film and co-directs the annual British Silent Film Festival, as well as programming for a variety of film festivals and events worldwide.

All articles by Bryony Dixon

Object of the week

Object of the week: 96-year-old footage of Alfred Hitchcock in a test take for his thriller Blackmail

Less than a minute long, this sound test from 1929 offers precious on-set footage of Alfred Hitchcock on mischievous form nearly 100 years ago.

By Bryony Dixon

Object of the week: 96-year-old footage of Alfred Hitchcock in a test take for his thriller Blackmail

Features

What going to the cinema was like in 1914

By Bryony Dixon

What going to the cinema was like in 1914

Lists

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

By Xavier Alexandre Pillai, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2023, as picked by BFI curators

Features

The Black Pirate: how we restored Douglas Fairbanks’ early colour swashbuckler

By James Layton and Bryony Dixon

The Black Pirate: how we restored Douglas Fairbanks’ early colour swashbuckler

Features

These rural English comedies from the silent era are gobsmackingly beautiful

By Bryony Dixon

These rural English comedies from the silent era are gobsmackingly beautiful

Lists

The best British TV of 2022, as picked by BFI curators

By James Bell, Ros Cranston and others

The best British TV of 2022, as picked by BFI curators

Features

Film’s first royal funeral: how early filmmakers captured the procession for Queen Victoria

By Bryony Dixon

Film’s first royal funeral: how early filmmakers captured the procession for Queen Victoria

What to watch at LFF

The first million dollar movie: restoring Erich von Stroheim’s monumental Foolish Wives

By Bryony Dixon

The first million dollar movie: restoring Erich von Stroheim’s monumental Foolish Wives

All about...

All about... nitrate film

By Bryony Dixon, Louise Allum and others

All about... nitrate film

Lists

100 BBC TV gamechangers

By Lisa Kerrigan, Nadia Attia and others

100 BBC TV gamechangers

Features

Shackleton and South: the journey back to sub-zero

By Bryony Dixon

Shackleton and South: the journey back to sub-zero

From the Sight and Sound archive

Festive spirits

By Bryony Dixon

Festive spirits

Best of 2021

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

By Lisa Kerrigan, James Bell and others

The best new British TV of 2021, picked by BFI curators

10 great

10 great British silent films

By Bryony Dixon, Neil Brand and others

10 great British silent films

Lists

Finds of the century: 12 great films from 1921

By Bryony Dixon and Pamela Hutchinson

Finds of the century: 12 great films from 1921

Features

Pimple and the tramp: the fickle fortunes of a silent comedy star

By Bryony Dixon

Pimple and the tramp: the fickle fortunes of a silent comedy star

Lists

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

By Robin Baker, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2020, picked by BFI curators

Features

What to watch at LFF: How 3 pioneering Australian sisters made a silent gem

By Bryony Dixon

What to watch at LFF: How 3 pioneering Australian sisters made a silent gem

Features

Silent film and the great pandemic of 1918

By Bryony Dixon

Silent film and the great pandemic of 1918

Britain on Lockdown

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #3

By Bryony Dixon, Ros Cranston and others

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #3

Britain on Lockdown

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #2

By Jez Stewart, Patrick Russell and others

Britain on Lockdown: The online videos shaping the crisis #2

Features

A thoroughly modern Betty: rediscovering Betty Balfour’s Love, Life and Laughter

By Bryony Dixon

A thoroughly modern Betty: rediscovering Betty Balfour’s Love, Life and Laughter

Lists

The best British TV of 2018

By Elinor Groom, Storm Patterson and others

The best British TV of 2018

Features

How the Victorians first saw their world on film

By Bryony Dixon

How the Victorians first saw their world on film

Features

Washed away: lost films by female directors

By Isabel Stevens, Pamela Hutchinson and others

Washed away: lost films by female directors

Features

A pantheon of one’s own: 25 female film critics worth celebrating

By Miriam Bale, Anne Billson and others

A pantheon of one’s own: 25 female film critics worth celebrating

Lists

The best British TV of 2017

By Bryony Dixon, William Fowler and others

The best British TV of 2017

Features

Kinemacolor: dazzling colour film frames from more than 100 years ago

By Bryony Dixon

Kinemacolor: dazzling colour film frames from more than 100 years ago

Lists

The best British TV of 2017 so far

By Lisa Kerrigan, Josephine Botting and others

The best British TV of 2017 so far

Features

It’s time for one of the great British silent films to get its due: The Informer

By Bryony Dixon

It’s time for one of the great British silent films to get its due: The Informer