It's Your Story!
A genre that is often under-appreciated, overlooked, and thus under greater threat, home and amateur movies tell personal stories that simultaneously capture a shared social past. The selection below features familiar “ingredients”, like newborns and newlyweds, alongside shots of bombed-out houses, community cine club achievements, and short trick films; a beautiful showcase of the art of the amateur.
Films in this gallery
Barbara I domestic scenes
An amateur film compilation showing the early years of a young girl.
Whipsnade Zoo
Amateur film shot at Whipsnade Park Zoo.
Sun - Fun - Canvey
1970 amateur film of the annual summer day trip to Canvey Island by the residents of the Brandon Estate, Southwark.
Wedding of Frances Burgess and Charles Holmes at St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury, 8 July 1944
A light hearted, informal and romantic film of the wartime wedding and reception of Charles Holmes to Edith Burgess in…
The Beginner
Comic short by amateur London film-maker featuring a witch and her attempts to pass an examination in spellcraft. Wonderful trick…
Bruce Robertson collection: Bruce Robertson Reel 1, Mitcham (1944-1947)
Short home movie capturing the devastating aftermath of a V1 flying bomb in Mitcham and then domestic scenes in Morden…
More galleries
Green Spaces
Gallery celebrating the green spaces of London
Disability Heritage Collection Highlight
UK Disability History Month takes place annually between the 16th of November and the 16th of December. The films within…
Black British Heritage Collection Highlight
Black History is a crucial part of London's history. Watch a specially curated selection from London’s Screen Archives collection.
Easy as ABC
Skip class today and immerse yourself in our carefully selected films covering nearly a century of school-going.