I am looking for archive film of royal visits, diplomatic events overseas, etc. Where are such films held and will I need to pay a copyright fee if I want to show them?
The FCO’s own film unit was closed in 2007 and we do not keep records of where archive film from either the old Foreign Office or Colonial Office are kept. Since 2008 the British Film Institute (BFI) has held the old FCO film unit’s collection (it previously having been held by the Central Office of Information (COI). (See this press release for more information). The point of contact for film enquiries at the BFI is Tony Dykes – tony.dykes@bfi.org.uk, tel: 020 7957 8932. The Institute’s address is: BFI Archive Footage Sales Department, 21 Stephen Street, London, W1T 1LN, Tel: 020 7957 4842, Fax: 020 7436 4014. Other potential sources of information are: • The Moving History Project, which is a guide to UK film and television archives in the public sector based at the University of Brighton; their contact details are as follows: The Moving History Project, Screen Archive South East, University of Brighton, Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 2JY, Tel: 01273 643213, e-mail: movinghistory@brighto
