News came this week that the British Film Institute has digitised thousands of films and made them available on their BFI Player to stream. Much like with our 8mm film to DVD transfers, they have made otherwise unavailable and unseen footage from all over Britain available on an accessible and easy to use format.
Footage available on the BFI Player stretches back as far as 1895 and ranges in variety from films to documentaries to home videos. Documenting 120 years of available film allows users to have an insight into the ordinary day-to-day of British life, whilst being able to tap into some more extraordinary events, such as the commemoration of the Battle of Britain whilst World War II was still unfolding, in 1943.
Search by Location
Perhaps one of the more fascinating features of the player is the ability to search by location, enabling users to have a look at the history of their hometown and surrounding areas. Residents of Barrow-in-Furness can look back at local rail workers from 1901, Newcastle residents can reflect on when Martin Luther King Jr received his honorary degree or Liverpudlians can reminisce on when the Queen Mother named and launched the RMS Windsor Castle.
Home Videos
One of the oldest surviving home videos is from the Passmore Family Collection and is dated 1902. Michael Passmore still possesses his grandfather’s camera and reminisced on his grandfather’s passion for film-making as he watched footage of his own father as a child; “I am very proud of my grandfather’s films; they have such a lot of movement and are never boring. The films capture the joys of family occasions and holidays so beautifully. I am delighted that they will be able to be shared with the rest of the country and hope they will continue to give pleasure to anyone interested in the history of home movies.”
To speak to one of our team and discuss our services or how we can give your family footage the longevity it deserves, contact us on 0800 592433 where we will be eagerly awaiting your call.
