The North West Film Archive is one of the largest public moving image archives in Britain. We rescue
15/05/2026
Big congrats to Chris Paul Daniels for his screening and Q&A at the BFI yesterday evening as part of the Experimenta programme organised by Will Fowler.
It was such a treat to see our footage on the big screen at NFT3 through Chris's incredible work "Is There Anybody There?" and "Give Yourself A Round Of Applause"
Two days to go!
Reserve your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scouting-skating-hanging-around-youth-on-film-tickets-1984042458402
11/05/2026
We're pleased to announce that staff from the archive will be at the Focal Festival of Archives in London next month to share our work and collections with the archive community. See you there.
"Scouting, Skating, Hanging Around: Youth on Film" will be shown on Saturday 16th of May. This showcase of films from our collection explores portrayals of young people, their aspirations and society's attitudes towards them.
This is a free screening at MMU as part of the Manchester International Crime and Justice Film Festival.
🗓️ Saturday 16 May
⌚ 12 - 1.30pm
📍 Grosvenor East Building, Manchester Metropolitan University
💬 All films shown with descriptive closed captioning
Age: 12+
We'll be showing a selection of clips drawn from the last 100 years, including girls skateboarding in Cumbria, the Salford Lads Club enjoying Aberystwyth and a Chaplinesque fable about the Scouts.
Joining us are Glyn Potts, CEO of Greater Manchester Youth Federation, and Kevin Wong of the Festival team, to reflect on the footage and discuss attitudes towards young people, particularly with concern to crime, and youth work more generally.
The Manchester International Crime and Justice Film Festival runs from 7th May to 19th June.
Films excerpts shown here:
NWFA 2007 - 'So it Goes'
NWFA 475 - 'A Pretty Fair Week's
NWFA 123 - 'The Man Who Changed His Mind'
RR 2519 - 'Skate Like a Lass'
NWFA 4949 - 'A Change of Air'
N4673219 - 'You Don't Like Me... But You Don't Even Know Me'
21/04/2026
On the day the city of Salford celebrates its centenary of being given city status, we thought we'd share this short piece of film made around the time. While sadly its only the remaining fragments of what looks like it was a longer film from 1925 Gateway to South East Lancashire gives a great glimpse of some of Salfords well known locations.
Enjoy it here at https://vimeo.com/510177027
How many can you recognise and how different do they look today?
NWFA 5853 The Gateway to South-East Lancashire (1925) Promotional film for Salford - general views of streets and main junctions are followed by a look at the borough's parks and gardens and a brief glimpse of Manchester racecourse. This appears to be extracts from a longer film, as some intertitles are not followed by footage. NWFA Film No. 5853 Title...
23/12/2025
Winter Closure
We are taking a break over the Christmas period. The NWFA will be closed from Wednesday 24th December, re-opening on Monday 5th January.
Thank you for all your support and engagement in 2025, we look forward to sharing more from the collection in 2026!
Image description:
A black and white image of a large group of schoolchildren, some wearing blazers and short trousers and carrying gas masks, engaged in a frenetic snowball fight in the grounds of Bolton School in 1940.
From NWFA 2862 A Cavalcade of School Events 1940 produced by G H Higginson.
Today sees the 85th anniversary of the Manchester Blitz which took place over the 22nd and 23rd of December 1940.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the CWS Film Unit based in Manchester as part the Co-op, made this film Manchester Took it Too. Its title was a response to the more famous film about the blitz on the capital in the previous months.
What Manchester Took it Too and reflect on the suffering and resilience of a city under attack.
Today sees the 85th anniversary of the Manchester blitz which took place over two days the 22nd and 23rd of December 1940.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the CWS Film Unit based as part of the Co-Op in Manchester, made the following film Manchester Took it Too. Its title being a reference to the more famous film of the time made about the blitz on London.
Watch Manchester Took it Too here and reflect on the hardship and resilience of a city under attack.
27/11/2025
Sending a huge thank you to those who joined us for our first Q***r History Chats session last week 👏 🌈
Another event coming up this weekend in Birkenhead. Details and booking info below, or head to https://linktr.ee/CINEMANATIONCIC
**UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances the event in St Helens will be rescheduled in January. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this.**
Image descriptions:
All images are set on a brightly coloured background of rainbow film strips.
1) White text reads "Share Your Story, Shape the Archive. Q***r History Chats, Across Merseyside this November."
2) A grey box with white text reads "Join the conversation! A relaxed Q***r History Chat, exploring Merseyside's LGBTQIA+ stories on screen, with a £20 thank-you for your time"
3) Text details the dates and venues of the events. "Sat 22 Nov - 4.30 - 6.30pm, Lovelocks, 27 Old Haymarket, Liverpool", "Sat 29 Nov 1.30-3pm, Make Hamilton, 69-71 Argyle Street, Birkenhead", "Sun 30 Nov 1.30-3pm, Street and a Half, 11 Haydock Street, St Helens" "Knowsley and Sefton Events will take place in January, dates to be confirmed"
4) A white box on it with the logos of North West Film Archive and Manchester Metropolitan University, with text below reading "with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery" with the BFI and National Lottery logo below
Cinema Nation
BFI
MMU Library Services
20/11/2025
Q***R HISTORY CHATS
The North West Film Archive is teaming up with Michael and Monika (Cinema Nation CIC), Siân A. Williams (co-director Rebel D***s and project manager at Q***r Britain) and local communities to explore Merseyside's LGBTQIA+ stories on screen.
Michael, Monika and Siân are hosting Q***r History Chats - one in each borough of Merseyside – to hear directly from YOU about what’s missing, what matters, and how our moving image heritage can truly reflect the richness and diversity of LGBTQIA+ lives in our region.
More details and booking info below, or head to https://linktr.ee/CINEMANATIONCIC
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |