BFI Movie Trailers

Splendour of the Heavens Trailer (1962)

10 September 1962

A film about astronomy which also happens to show views of the ancient city of Winchester, before focussing on a particular house in the suburbs with its own observatory.

Iron and Steel Supply of the World Trailer (1947)

01 September 1947

Time-travel to a 1940s classroom with this exemplary educational film.

Cuties Trailer (2021)

12 October 2021

Cuties explores the elusive beauty in how we as a species continue forward in spite of our proclivity for destruction.

Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan Trailer (1966)

17 November 1966

The President had been due to visit twice before, but on both occasions the trip had to be cancelled.

Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers’ Annual Race Meet Trailer (1901)

09 August 1901

Exciting scenes of amateur cycling's 'Race of Champions' at Manchester's Fallowfield track.

Four Degrees West Trailer (1965)

02 October 1965

Contemporary life in Plymouth in the 1960s – plus some history.

Animated Politics Trailer (1910)

06 December 1910

Woolwich candidates face the voters in the first of 1910's two general elections.

Kagan Valley Trailer (1931)

01 May 1931

Amateur travelogue of the Kagan Valley and Darband, Pakistan.

The Coast of Commerce Trailer (1962)

01 May 1962

Take a revealing tour along a coast of contrasts, from the folksy freshness of Whitby to the coaly Tyne, queen of all rivers.

Outside the Box Trailer (2018)

19 November 2018

Tody is a lonely bird slaving his life away in a packaging factory. He dreams of a better life in the sunshine with someone there who actually cares if he’s tired or overworked.

Hilton Hotel Construction Trailer (1959)

15 September 1959

The Hilton Hotel rises from the ashes, surrounded by derelict houses and bomb damaged streets.

Chief Guide at Hyderabad Rally Trailer (1937)

09 March 1937

Girl guides on parade at a rally in southern India attended by Olave Baden-Powell.

Derby c.1938 - Eisner Personal Film Trailer (1938)

01 January 1938

Charming amateur film featuring the Eisner family, who emigrated to Britain from Romania the year this film was made.

The Premier at Neath Trailer (1918)

15 August 1918

The sun shines down when PM Lloyd George is in town.

Pimple's The Whip Trailer (1917)

01 February 1917

A Lord foils a plot to kill his favourite and rides it to win.

Kashmir Trailer (1941)

01 October 1941

An astonishing English tourist’s view of street life in pre-partition Srinagar and Kashmir.

Fox Hunt Trailer (1914)

01 September 1914

The Beaufort hunt meets in Chipping Sodbury before riding out in pursuit of their quarry.

Above Us the Earth Trailer (1977)

11 June 1977

Independent Welsh filmmaker Karl Francis uses amateur and professional actors to explore the community impact of the 1975 closure of the Ogilvie Colliery in the Rhymney Valley, a few miles from his family home.

Procession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj Mahal Trailer (1933)

01 August 1933

Armoured elephants, sacred monkeys and a camel carriage from Rajasthan.

Women Cyclists' Rally Trailer (1916)

20 September 1916

Female cyclists from all parts of London meet at the Angel Ditton, before cycling to Wisley for a picnic.

A Few Days Trailer (1963)

23 April 1963

A brief romantic encounter, directed by Howard Blake, composer of the score for The Snowman. A young woman meets a man at a London party.

Yorks Draw with Surrey Trailer (1922)

03 September 1922

Surrey play Yorkshire at the Oval as the 1922 County Championship nears its conclusion.

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?

Aka and Daffla Dances Trailer (1934)

03 June 1934

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

First in the Field Trailer (1927)

31 December 1927

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

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

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.

Child Cycling Proficiency / Cyclists Turning Right Trailer (1950)

31 December 1950

Cycling proficiency for children and the dangers of cyclists turning right are communicated by means of simple 2D cel animation, a necessarily cost effective technique given that production budgets for television 'fillers' were always on the modest side.

Projectionism Trailer (2022)

15 March 2022

First we invented the moving-image camera. Then we used the new camera to record the world around us.

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.

Joe and Petunia: Coastguard Trailer (2006)

19 May 2006

The message of this coastguard film was to raise awareness that HM Coastguard had become a ‘999’ service enabling the public to raise the alarm as it does for other emergency services.

Sewing Machine Trailer (1973)

14 January 1973

While a mother busies herself with sewing, a clock counts down the last minute of her daughter’s life as we hear a chilling voiceover reminding us to keep watch over our children when they're near traffic.

Royal Children Trailer (1961)

02 January 1961

Even the most devout monarchist may feel uncomfortable watching this film - hindsight makes this a rather poignant experience.

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.

Making More Trailer (2011)

01 January 2011

Some fascinating insight into the making of Barbet Schroeder's cult classic 'More' (1969)

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.

Procession at Gangtok Trailer (1940)

02 April 1940

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

Quiz Crime No. 1 Trailer (1943)

01 January 1943

Test of observation for amateur detectives. Two crimes are depicted: The Crooked Billet Murder and Back Stage Murder.

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.

That Yorkshire Sound Trailer (2017)

24 September 2017

An audio-driven animated documentary covering a day of life in Yorkshire.

Plas Gwynant Trailer (1959)

01 September 1959

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

Let My Body Speak Trailer (2020)

14 August 2020

Our bodies store memories. The body does not forget. A childhood in Damascus, OCD, the revolution, falling in love with a woman.

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.

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.

Tryweryn, The Story of a Valley Trailer (1965)

04 April 1965

Devastation of a Welsh-speaking community: Capel Celyn village and farms of the Tryweryn Valley disappear beneath the waters of a reservoir so Liverpool’s thirst may be slaked.

Your Turn Trailer (1975)

02 January 1975

This PIF cleverly uses the threat of a knock from the Old Bill to deter would-be vandals. However, if we recall the urban landscape of 1970s Britain - smashed up phone boxes, broken windows, vandalised bus shelters, and so on - perhaps it may not have been an altogether effective deterrent.

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.