Discover 1,000s of British Films and Documentaries via the BFI

Find inspiration for your next creative project with the UK’s largest movie archive sharing works by world-class filmmakers

From Netflix to Amazon Prime, when it comes to watching films, the possibilities for streaming are extensive. But if you’re looking for something a little different to inspire your creative projects, the British Film Institute (BFI) has compiled one of the largest collections of film in the world, showcasing a history of British cinema and beyond.

Plus, the British Film Institute's (BFI) free National Archive gives UK-based audiences access to thousands of shorts, features, and archive footage for free (no subscription required!).

Read on to learn more about the BFI, explore the history of British film, and discover all kinds of cinematic gems you can access online via BFI Player.

What is the British Film Institute?

A charity founded in 1993, the BFI is a leading body for film in the UK, with a particular focus on independent British and European titles. The BFI has compiled one of the largest collections of film in the world, featuring more than 50,000 fiction films, 100,000 non-fiction titles, and 625,000 programs.

The platform aims to connect audiences with cinema from Britain and beyond, champion emerging filmmakers in the UK, and promote the talent behind British films. It’s not just British talent you’ll find on BFI Player though; the collection showcases cinematic works of art from across the globe.

What can you watch via the BFI's free online archive?

While BFI Player has subscription and rental services that offer access to exclusive content in both the UK and the US, UK-based viewers have the option to access plenty of titles for free via the BFI National Archive.

Covering 120 years of British cinema, the free collection includes something for everyone. Films and footage are broken down into Popular, Collections, New, and Britain on Film (which allows you to explore titles based on a geographical location).

Within these, there vast and varied categories like The Story of British Animation, Musicals, Black Britain on Film, Film Academy Shorts, To The Ends of the Earth, Woman with a Movie Camera, Queer Britain, Sci-Fi - Days of Fear and Wonder, and lots more. There's also archival footage of old advertisements, newsreels, and so on.

The free collection is available in the UK only; US-based viewers can sign up for a subscription service via BFI Player Classics (scroll to the bottom of the post to learn more).

Latest releases

One of the most recent additions to BFI National Archive’s New section is the thirteen-minute short film, Lost Connections (2021). Created by editor and filmmaker Andy Burns, the film responds to the impact of the pandemic, using archive footage to draw comparisons between past and present, with the aim of giving hope for the future.

You’ll also find 2018 documentary Lord Richard Rogers about the late, award-winning architect, in which he shares the influences that have inspired his work over the years. The architect who turned buildings inside out, Rogers is the creative mind best-known for buildings including the Millenium Dome in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The history of British cinema

From the first motion picture in the 1800s to the BAFTA awards, which have been taking place annually for over 70 years, the history of British cinema is extensive, and it's something the BFI is committed to preserving.

Alongside its library of films, this year the charity launched the BFI Filmography, “the world’s first complete and accurate living record of UK cinema”. It provides a free in-depth history of UK film from the early 1900s and analyzes more than 100 genres, from drama to comedy.

Visitors to the site have the option to search by film, role, or person, which allows you to discover all kinds of fascinating facts—from actors with the most film appearances, to the years when most titles were released. Fun fact: Dame Judi Dench has appeared in forty-one films, making her the most prolific working actress!

The filmography also highlights the inequalities that exist in the industry in an effort to encourage change. In collaboration with Nesta, the BFI’s research has drawn attention to the gender imbalance that still exists both in front of and behind the camera, with many women still being cast in unnamed, gendered roles.

Heather Stewart, BFI Creative Director, said:

“With the creation of the BFI Filmography, with a complete data set from 1911 to the present day, we now know for the first time ever, exactly how many films have been made and released, when and by whom. At a time when the UK film industry is burgeoning, the BFI Filmography is an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in film, providing evidence that can help inform policy, the future of the industry and its workforce.”

Access BFI's film collections online

Browse the BFI Player’s free online film archive (currently officially available to UK-based audiences, only).

To access BFI content outside the UK, there’s a subscription service available for US-based audiences, BFI Player Classic (seven-day free trial available; $5.99 per month). It's also available through services like Roku and Apple TV.

You can also discover great extras and behind-the-scenes content for free, including interviews with filmmakers, video essays, archival footage and more via the official BFI YouTube channel.

Discover more filmmaking inspiration

1. If you’re interested in exploring the filmmaking industry further, check out all Domestika’s online film, video, and TV courses, and read on for more online resources to inspire your projects...

2. From Korean classics to Old Hollywood talkies, discover films from around the world with these online movie archives.

3. Get inspired by ten award-winning movies and short films from the Oscars 2022.