BFI Movie Trailers

Meet the Mayor Trailer (1968)

08 December 1968

A new piazza proposed for Leicester market is met by public opposition. This is a city described by one local historian as unromantic, so what do the developers expect?

The Three Children Trailer (1946)

01 January 1946

Public warning film on road safety for children - 3 small children meet Death.

Aka and Daffla Dances Trailer (1934)

03 June 1934

A stunning display by Nyishi tribesmen from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern India.

Blackpool Promenade Trailer (1924)

01 January 1924

This captivating early film - by an unknown filmmaker - offers a glimpse of glorious Blackpool and the many delights it offers holidaymakers.

First in the Field Trailer (1927)

31 December 1927

First county cricket match of the season between champions Lancashire and Warwickshire.

Early Cinema: Primitives and Pioneers Trailer (2005)

29 August 2005

The BFI's fascinating collection of 60 short films all made before 1911 aims to give wider access to some of the extraordinary film material held in the BFI National Archive, much of which has been restored.

Harrow Hospital Carnival Trailer (1933)

01 August 1933

Harrow’s extraordinary and opulent pageant, and seaside holidays on the south coast.

Blackfaced Sheep Trailer (1946)

01 November 1946

How to sew a brat onto a ewe hogg, and everything else you wanted to know about sheep farming in the Highlands.

Great Peter of York Trailer (1927)

20 September 1927

A large crowd and choir, on an historic day at York Minster, greet the arrival of a replacement big bell, watching and singing as labourers manfully slide the 10 ton bell off a truck.

Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Peshawar, The Khyber Pass and Rawl Pindi Trailer (1922)

10 January 1922

The future Edward VIII enjoys stunning mountain scenery on a visit to the Khyber Pass during his royr

Lieutenant Pimple and the Stolen Submarine Trailer (1914)

21 January 1914

The intrepid Lieutenant Pimple thwarts foreign enemies in an action-packed wartime spy spoof.

Balloon Accident at St Cloud Trailer (1914)

06 May 1914

An aeronautical accident is caught on camera at a Parisian 'Aéro-Parc'.

Once upon a Line Trailer (1947)

01 March 1947

Model husbands prove that size isn't everything as they get steamed up over Lilliput locomotives.

Shakespeare's Country Trailer (1940)

23 April 1940

A tour of Stratford-upon-Avon's houses and hamlets, stomping ground of a young William Shakespeare.

Helliwell Family Trip with Violet and Jack Trailer (1964)

09 February 1964

Colourful amateur film showing family outings around Lancashire and a trip to Southampton to meet travellers from America.

A Family Wedding in Felixstowe Trailer (1934)

01 July 1934

Having an architect for a father came in handy on Beris Wrinch's wedding day. A special bridge was designed so the wedding party could reach the marquee in style.

Turkeys for Xmas Trailer (1915)

01 November 1915

Feathered friends prepare to meet their fate in this seasonal newsreel outing to a Norfolk turkey farm.

Correspondence 1989-1999 Trailer (2019)

11 July 2019

Over the course of a ten-year postal correspondence, a pair of movie-going pen-pals share their thoughts on some of 90s cinema’s key traits: the rise of video, the need for speed, and of course the cliff-edge sense of global dread.

Southward with Prince Philip Trailer (1957)

02 January 1957

Highlights of Prince Philip's visit to Antarctica, Falkland Island Dependencies, the Falkland Islands themselves, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, St.

'If Winter Comes' - It Has! Trailer (1923)

02 January 1923

Dashing through the snow; on a six-horse open plough... The streets are ready for sledging in 1920s Buxton.

A 'Wet' Rag at Cookham Trailer (1926)

02 September 1926

The devil makes the biggest splash at Cookham's famed regatta.

Ernestine & Kit Trailer (2016)

17 March 2016

Two ladies in their seventies drive through north County Sligo in a neat Japanese car. As they pass by village pubs and beaches, they imagine the terrible, immoral lives people are living today.

The Mirocle Trailer (1976)

01 January 1976

It’s all me, me, me – this experimental animation on the Self wittily wraps up Jung and old philosophies in a Paul Klee-inspired design.

The Wondrous World of Work Trailer (2014)

17 April 2014

When Callum undertakes work experience with his embarrassing Nan, he soon discovers that the world of jacket potatoes can be complicated.

Sussex v Kent County Cricket Match Trailer (1913)

01 January 1913

Large crowds gather for cricket week at Canterbury's St Lawrence Ground, as Kent take on Sussex and Nottinghamshire.

Street Scenes in India Trailer (1935)

02 February 1935

From the arrival of a new viceroy to street markets, this amateur film captures the diversity of life in colonial India.

Jazz Rebound Trailer (1995)

01 January 1995

Short film by Michael Maynard

The First Century of the Season Trailer (1920)

06 May 1920

Surrey batsman Jack Hobbs gets in some batting practice, with team mate Bert Strudwick keeping wicket.

Midland Journey Trailer (1947)

01 August 1947

Tourist promo film extolling the delights of Birmingham and the Midlands, with a sprinkling of arch one-liners.

London Line No. 373 Trailer (1971)

01 October 1971

A Ghanaian fashion student and a Nigerian squash player are among the Africans making a life in 70s Britain.

Mirror Trailer (1970)

01 January 1970

A young would-be writer searches the street of Glasgow for his missing girlfriend.

Procession at Gangtok Trailer (1940)

02 April 1940

Traditional games, dancing and music among the people of Sikkim - in vivid colour.

All out - 1,107! Trailer (1926)

31 December 1926

Ponsford, Ryder and Woodfull seen batting in Victoria's record-breaking innings against New South Wales in Melbourne.

Twinkling Fingers Trailer (1940)

01 October 1940

Pianists Charlie Kunz and Mark Hambourg tickle the ivories for our entertainment in this jolly musical short.

Great Yorkshire Show at Leeds Trailer (1902)

01 January 1902

The well-dressed Edwardian ladies and gents of the county tour the annual agricultural show.

Plas Gwynant Trailer (1959)

01 September 1959

Follow a group of boys as they learn forestry, map reading, camping, canoeing and rock climbing.

Mysore Dasara Trailer (1933)

27 September 1933

The Mysore Palace shines with 100,000 lights in a dazzling 400-year-old celebration.

Army Cross Country Trailer (1914)

01 March 1914

Private Daly of the Connaught Rangers triumphs in the Aldershot Command annual cross country race, months before the outbreak of WWI.

Giro the Germ Episode 1 Trailer (1927)

01 January 1927

Animated public information film from the Health and Cleanliness Council.

Veteran Car Rally, Brighton Trailer (1964)

02 April 1964

Vintage vehicles on parade in this amateur film record of the longest-running motor event in the world.

Skimsters Trailer (1959)

03 March 1959

An array of brave 1950s water skiing girls and guys bring a bit of Hollywood glamour to the chilly waters of Loch Earn.

Motorcycle Fashion Scene Trailer (1965)

02 January 1965

Not sure the deerstalker helmet and (beige!) corduroy jacket are suitable for scooter or motorcycle riding.

Hints and Hobbies No.11 Trailer (1926)

03 February 1926

Jiu-jitsu for ladies, how to get ink off a white apron and other life essentials courtesy of the 'Hints and Hobbies' team.

Ramsgate Zeppelin Raid. Showing Damage Done to the Bull and George Hotel Trailer (1915)

16 May 1915

Public anxiety about war from the air is all too real for the people of Ramsgate in this newsreel footage of the aftermath of a Zeppelin raid.

Drive Carefully, Darling Trailer (1975)

01 January 1975

An exhortation to drivers to pay attention to road safety. In just 15 minutes, John Krish manages to give this road safety film something new and different by presenting events not from the point of view of the driver, but of his brain, memory and ego, who operate from a rather camp technology-driven command centre.

Frank's Joke Trailer (2018)

19 November 2018

Frank told a bad joke at his new place of work. Nobody laughed. Now at 3am in the morning he is unable to sleep as he obsesses and ruminates over this social faux-pas, leading him to ponder on the nature of memory itself.

Valley of Rhymney Trailer (1947)

06 May 1947

Made to foster relations between the local residents of Rhymney, in south Wales, and the church.

Horses' New Year's Dinner Trailer (1916)

05 January 1916

Retired nags enjoy a well-earned New Year's feed at the Cricklewood Home of Rest for Horses.

Fragments: The Incomplete Films of Peter de Rome Trailer (2012)

02 January 2012

Filmmaker Peter de Rome talks about his career and some of the many projects he never finished.

Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere Trailer (1926)

10 April 1926

Indian high society enjoy themselves at a Calcutta garden party held to welcome the new Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

Marriage of Miss Rossalyn Weinbaum to Mr A. Goide Trailer (1923)

28 October 1923

Guests step out in smart hats and sumptuous furs for a Jewish wedding at London’s Central Synagogue.

New Ways Trailer (1978)

05 June 1978

This film focuses on the basics of adapting to life in England.

British Paramount News No. 1532 Trailer (1945)

15 April 1945

Britain welcomes children liberated from the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Aylesbury Hunt Steeplechases Trailer (1914)

19 March 1914

Stormy skies make brollies essential at the last meeting before WWI of this forgotten fixture of the jump racing calendar.

Andy Lights the Fire Trailer (1980)

01 January 1980

Andy arrives home from school, and goes to light the fire in the living room. His sister, Sal, warns him against this, but Andy is adamant that if he's careful everything will be OK.

Armistice Trailer (1929)

01 November 1929

Take your seat for an Armistice concert by military bands playing a medley of songs commonly sung during WWI.

Our Greatest Ambassador Trailer (1922)