The British Movie Institute Mediatheque houses a vast array of movie and television programs, with a particular focus on the North West of England that you can peruse. This collection consists of titles taken from the BFI National Archive and the North West Movie Archive.
Anyone curious about the history of movie in the area or looking to see some classic movie and television shows will have fun during their visit. How long you stay depends on what kind of media you're looking to enjoy. Some trips could take an hour, while others could last all afternoon or even all day depending on your interests.
British Movie Institute Mediatheque in Manchester - one of the highlights of 10 Places Where Locals Go at Night in Manchester (Read all about Manchester here)
British Movie Institute Mediatheque highlights
The most important aspect of the British Movie Institute Mediatheque is the collection itself. You'll find more than 2,000 complete movies and television programs stored here, with over 100 of those specifically depicting what life is like in Manchester and the English North West.
Quite a few different genres are covered in the BFI's collection. You'll find classic movies along with more modern feature movies. Documentaries and children's television are available as well. Even a select-few home movies have made it into the collection since they managed to capture life in Manchester so expertly – and potentially incidentally.
Good to know when visiting British Movie Institute Mediatheque
The first thing you need to know about the British Movie Institute Mediatheque is that access is entirely free. All you have to do is head to the Manchester Central Library and log on at a viewing station. Afterward, the entire collection will be available for you to peruse.
Additionally, it's important to realize that the movies and programs contained within are going to have cultural significance since that's one of the prerequisites for being preserved. That means that just about everything in the collection will have something special to offer, so don't hesitate to check out something you've never heard of.
British Movie Institute Mediatheque in Manchester
Location: St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD, UK
Open: Monday–Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed on Fridays and Sundays)
Phone: +44 (0)1612 341983