West End Jungle

1961 documentary about the history and seedy reality of the sex industry in London's Soho.

Jack the Ripper : The Case Reopened

Emilia Fox and Britain’s top criminologist, Professor David Wilson, cast new light on the Jack the Ripper case. Together, they examine the Ripper’s modus operandi using modern technology to recreate the murder sites to help understand the extraordinary risks the Ripper took to kill his victims. Using the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES)—a bespoke computer system used by the police to help detect patterns in criminal activity—and evidence uncovered within the investigation, results strongly indicate another woman was, in fact, the first Ripper victim.

Heart of an Empire

A 1935 black and white film advertising London and exolting it's most popular tourist attractions.

Unter Herrenmenschen — Der deutsche Kolonialismus in Namibia

Germans colonized the land of Namibia, in southern Africa, during a brief period of time, from 1840 to the end of the World War I. The story of the so-called German South West Africa (1884-1915) is hideous; a hidden and silenced account of looting and genocide.

L'Extrême Droite dans l'Histoire : Du général Boulanger à Jean-Marie Le Pen

Avon Vido

Documentarian Dhara Wright and Steven T. Hanley of Deeper Into Movies are given the opportunity to rummage Avon Video, a London video store left abandoned for about 20 years.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898

The little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of 'Negro Rule', self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

Snowballing

30 seconds of actual snowball fighting from 1899. A quick glimpse of a time gone by

Tom Merry, Lightning Cartoonist, Sketching Kaiser Wilhelm II

A tiny fragment of an actuality film of Tom Merry (William Mechem), a 'lightning sketch' caricaturist performing his act for the camera and producing a large profile caricature of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The loss of the rest of the film has bequeathed us 6 seconds that are of Mechem standing next to the completed portrait and sadly, that is all there is. An early film made by Birt Acres for R.W. Paul. (see release information for further detail).

We Dance For Life

Every day in Sutton, scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research at The London Cancer Hub try to discover what will defeat cancer. In the summer of 2022, communities in Sutton came together to celebrate their incredible research through the creation of a short community film celebrating this science. The resulting film showcases choreographed dance sequences as creative yet recognisable interpretations of scientific concepts.

Memories of Mortlake

Memories of Mortlake is an antique shop in West London owned by Elke from Germany. In her tiny shop there are no spaces left uncovered, every shelf and surface is piled up with wonderful old treasures. But she's only able to keep going because she owns the freehold to her building, a luxury most junk stores can only dream of. She's a passionate maker of things too so has an astonishing collection of old buttons, lace, ribbon, beads and fabric. She talks about the demise of sewing skills among the young, how no one appreciates the workmanship in all the hand made stuff and the death of the retail shops during the pandemic in London.

Where Are The Women

Celebrating London’s women mural artists, documenting WOM Collective's Street Art Jam and graffiti workshop at Stockwell Hall of Fame.

Japanese Dancers

Three sisters dance the Mikado in this very early film from the Edison company.

Stranger in the City

Aspects of a London day, including prostitutes on street corners, a striptease show and the 2i's Coffee Bar.

Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln

An examination of the intimate life of America's most consequential president, Abraham Lincoln. As told by preeminent Lincoln scholars and never before seen photographs and letters, Lincoln's romantic relationships with men is detailed. The lens is widened into the history of human sexual fluidity and focuses on the profound differences between sexual mores of the 19th century and those we hold today.

Hyde Park Corner

Film made at Hyde Park Corner in 1896 by an unknown filmmaker. It looks south west across Grosvenor Place. The southern wing of St George's Hospital (today the Lanesborough Hotel) can be seen on the right of the picture. The road stretching away in the centre of the picture is Grosvenor Crescent. The busy two way horsedrawn traffic movement is seen on what would today be Grosvenor Place and Apsley Way (the road layout now is different to 1896). The approximate camera position would be today on Apsley Way, just east of the Royal Artillery Memorial. Not to be confused with another Hyde Park Corner film by British Pathé made in the same year but with a different view. (That film looks north towards the triumphal arch at the corner of Hyde Park next to Apsley House.)

Dancing Before the Moon

Comprising new and archival footage, this film observes rituals performed by the South Asian, African, and Caribbean diaspora in Britain, demonstrating an appreciation of land, community values, and the universe we share with other species and planets.

Two Toddlers in High Chairs

Two toddlers sit for the camera in their best clothing. One is determined to take toys and objects from the other until the other toddler starts to cry. The BFI notes this is a copy of a film originally made by the Lumière brothers.

People In A Film

Chronicles the musical career of British post-punk art rockers Wire.

Punk Girls - Die weibliche Geschichte des britischen Punk

London 1976: Between economic crises and the Silver Jubilee, something is brewing in the squats and basement clubs of West London: Punk. A promise, a new beginning. Punk meant self-empowerment, especially for the women in the scene. For the first time, women picked up guitar, bass and drums, formed bands and wrote their own songs.