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Archive Film

trip to the moon (high-res)
trip to the moon (high-res)

Archive film refers to films that have been made in the past and exists of a rich mix of different genres and styles which have all been preserved because of their historical or cultural interest.  

Capturing key moments in cinematic history as well as documentation of traditions, industry, people and movements across the years, archive film is an important social and cultural time-capsule freely available to delve into and explore. Here we showcase different examples of archive available to stream that highlight the value of delving into the past and how it may help to inform ideas about the present and future.

All of the films below are available to stream via Into Film+ but some of them (labelled) are only available to Into Film+ Premium users. Find out more here.

Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertU

Age group7+

Duration13 mins

Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip To The Moon)(1902)

Fascinating early slice of science fiction and a founding stone of modern cinema.

One of the earliest fiction films ever made and at 14 minutes this is a brilliant introduction to the beginnings of black and white silent cinema, the development of fictional narratives and pioneering uses of special effects.

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Christmas is Coming! Archive Shorts
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age groupAll ages

Duration13 mins

Christmas is Coming! Archive Shorts(2021)

A selection of archive shorts celebrating the joys of Christmas.

This selection of archive shorts range from early cut-out animation to the first filmed version of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. A perfect way to start the festive season while also being a great introduction to early filmmaking and storytelling techniques.

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World War One Archive Shorts
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age groupAll ages

Duration4 mins

World War One Archive Shorts(2022)

A selection of archive shorts from WWI

These special snippets of early film bring to life the realities of those on the frontlines of World War One, including enlistees departing their homes and a raucous campfire gathering amongst soldiers as they celebrate the new year.

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Jemima + Johnny
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertPG

Age group7+

Duration30 mins

Jemima + Johnny(1966)

A short British film exploring race relations in post-riots Notting Hill in the 1960s through the friendship of a little girl and boy.

This short is thoughtful and refreshingly optimistic window into a pocket of 1960s London explores racial tensions within a community as seen through the innocent eyes of two children.

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Alice in Wonderland
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age group7+

Duration9 mins

Alice in Wonderland(1903)

Silent and first film adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland sees a young girl follow a white rabbit down a burrow into a fantastical world.

Based on the original illustrations in Lewis Carroll's children’s book, this early piece of cinema shows off the analogue materiality of film, with visible signs of aging and colourful tints expertly restored by the BFI National Archive.

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Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Films
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age groupAll ages

Duration72 mins

Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Films (1955)

Collection of Lotte Reineger's stunning depictions of popular fairy tales using her unique silhouette animation style.

Shadow puppetry is an ancient theatrical technique, which German animator Lotte Reiniger developed into an animation style. These depictions of Grimm fairy tales evoke the slightly dark yet magical feel of folk stories.

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World War One Archive Shorts
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age groupAll ages

Duration4 mins

World War One Archive Shorts(2022)

A selection of archive shorts from WWI

These special snippets of early film bring to life the realities of those on the frontlines of World War One, including enlistees departing their homes and a raucous campfire gathering amongst soldiers as they celebrate the new year.

Read more
Jemima + Johnny
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertPG

Age group7+

Duration30 mins

Jemima + Johnny(1966)

A short British film exploring race relations in post-riots Notting Hill in the 1960s through the friendship of a little girl and boy.

This short is thoughtful and refreshingly optimistic window into a pocket of 1960s London explores racial tensions within a community as seen through the innocent eyes of two children.

Read more
Shakespeare Archive Shorts
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age groupAll ages

Duration29 mins

Shakespeare Archive Shorts(2022)

A selection of archive shorts inspired by the work of William Shakespeare.

These selections of shorts are valuable ways to see how Shakespeare’s work was interpreted in the early days of cinema. Adaptations include a reworking of The Taming of the Shrew and an animation cut-out parody of Hamlet.

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Prelude
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age group11+

Duration7 mins

Prelude(1927)

Whilst listening to a piece of music and reading a spooky book, a man falls asleep and dreams of being buried alive.

This avant-garde silent film was inspired by a poem by Edgar Allan Poe and shows how early filmmakers experimented with special effects such as using double exposure to create a spooky and surreal atmosphere.

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From Scotland with Love
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertU

Age group11+

Duration76 mins

From Scotland with Love(2014)

Documentary exploring Scotland’s past and the lives of ordinary people, made entirely of film archive.

Archive allows for a rare insight into the collective past of ordinary people in this documentary entirely from archive accompanied by an emotive musical score. It explores universal themes of migration, work, family, and grief.

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Night Mail
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertU

Age group7+

Duration23 mins

Night Mail(1936)

An incredibly successful fusion of music, sound and voice, you can almost feel the rhythmic clatter of metal upon metal.

This government film aimed to show off the General Post Office’s efficient transportation of mail from London to Edinburgh by train, making the working man the hero of the screen. The industrious yet wistful images of landscape and machinery are accompanied by a poem by W.H. Auden.

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Living Proof: Man the Destroyer / The Living Land
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertUnclassified

Age group11+

Duration12 mins

Living Proof: Man the Destroyer / The Living Land(2021)

Scottish archive footage that reflects on the impact of fossil fuels and looks at alternatives to waste.

Extracted from the archive documentary Living Proof, this footage reflects on the ever-relevant question: What happens to our world when the fuel runs out?

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I'm British But...
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertPG

Age group11+

Duration29 mins

I'm British But...(1989)

Archive documentary in which young British Asians reflect on their cultural identities and share their passion for music that blends traditions.

A wonderful example of how archive film can be used to explore present topics, this debut film by Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha gives voice to a range of young people from Asian backgrounds, highlighting the relevance of the challenges and opportunities in immigration both in the 1980s and today.

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