A documentary about some of the comedians of the silent era featuring clips from their films and biographical information.
Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Charley Chase, Lupino Lane

A reframing of the classic tale of Narcissus, the director draws on snippets of conversation with a trusted friend to muse on gender and identity. Just as shimmers are difficult to grasp as knowable entities, so does the concept of a gendered self feel unknowable except through reflection. Is it Narcissus that Echo truly longs for, or simply the Knowing he possesses when gazing upon himself?
2023

A new film compiled from the BFI National Archive's unparalleled holdings of early films of China, features films from 1900-48 filmed across China. The cinematic journey of Around China with a Movie Camera contains many films which may never have been seen in China, or at the very least not for over 70 years. These travelogues, newsreels and home movies were made by a diverse group of British and French filmmakers, some professionals, but mainly enthusiastic amateurs, including intrepid tourists, colonial-era expatriates and Christian missionaries.
2016

This film was not intended to stand by itself, but was designed as the cinematic aspect of Welles' Mercury Theatre stage presentation of William Gillette's 1894 comedy about a New York playboy who flees from the violent husband of his mistress and borrows the identity of a plantation owner in Cuba who is expecting the arrival of a mail order bride. The film component of the performance was ultimately never screened due to the absence of projection facilities at the venue. Long-believed to be lost, a workprint was discovered in 2008 and the film had its premiere in 2013.
2013

A married couple ends up working at the same company where the wife is a general director. This arouses the suspicion of their co-workers who do not know they are married.
1966

The everyday lives, loves and dreams of a slightly kooky modern middle-class Egyptian family in the early 1960's.
1963

Hamam is a poor Arabic language teacher who gets sacked from a girls' elementary school for not being able to control mischievous students. He feels pessimistic about everything in life,but his freind,an employee working for a pasha finds him a job as a private teacher for his only daughter Laila in order to help her pass an exam. Laila treats Hamam like a friend and helps him to appreciate life and enjoy its qualities,and the man soon is drawn to her.
1949

A monkey comes home and uses a magic wand to make himself dinner. No sooner as he falls asleep, a hungry burglar enters his house. This short film was made by Segundo de Chomón in 1923 in his private studio with the help of his wife and son, outside of any studio structure, and has never had a regular distribution.
1923
For some time now, Sosthène, clerk at the Grand Laundromat of Papillon-sous-Bois, has been in love with Alphonsine, the girl who brings the laundry. One evening, he decides to win the heart of his beloved, who until now has been cruel and deaf to his fiery declarations, and if necessary, he'll kidnap her. Hidden at the edge of the woods, when Alphonsine goes by, Sosthène rolls through the grass until he lands at the beauty's feet, proclaiming his love in a deranged voice: "Be mine, or die!", "You idiot!". Blood rushes to Sosthène's head. His breath becomes so ragged that it can be heard a mile away, catching the attention of the famous detective Zigoto who was walking Bouboule, his no less famous police dog.
1912
Onésime needs to take care of an infant and does everything he can to avoid that responsibility.
1912

Two lovers perform a fandango dance. A jealous quarrel follows and the heart-broken swain decides to end it all. He throws himself from the window of his room, but instead of falling to his death, the anchor of a passing balloon intercepts his flight and he is taken high into the clouds. Laughing at his plight, the moon arouses the anger of the desperate lover and a battle between the two ensues.
1909

The set-up here is that Cretinetti has been invited to a friend's wedding and dressed up in a fine new outfit, which so impresses every woman he sees that they wind up pursuing him en masse -- along with a couple of men.
1909

This shows the heart of one of the tremendous drifts in the east end of Galveston. Hundreds of dead bodies are concealed in these immense masses, and at the time the picture was taken the odor given out could be detected for miles. The subject shows a gang of laborers clearing away the debris in the search for corpses, one of which was discovered while the picture was being taken. (Edison film catalog)
1900

While our photographers were crossing the Atlantic Ocean a most wonderful and sensational picture was secured, showing a storm at sea. The picture was secured by lashing the camera to the after bridge of the Kaiserine Maria Theresa, of the North German Lloyd Line, during one of its roughest voyages. The most wonderful storm picture ever photographed. Taken at great risk. (Edison Films, 1901)
1900

A roller skater performs a series of eccentric exercises.
1896

Native Mexican people grouped in front of the camera.
1896

A bout between a tall man and a dwarf.
1896

Two children, Ploetz and Larella, perform an Italian peasant dance.
1895
Part of the Wintergartenprogramm.
1895
A man performs tricks on a theatre stage with a bowler hat and a billiards ball in equilibrium on his arms and body.
1895

Eight circus performers known as the Grunato family perform their famous balancing act.
1895