Film Atlas

Editor(s):

James Layton

Footage Archive Producer:

Margaux Chalançon

Founder:

James Layton

Project Coordinator:

Crystal Kui

Archival Sources:

George Eastman Museum / Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County / Cinémathèque française / National Science and Media Museum (Bradford, UK) / Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Production Company:

International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) / George Eastman Museum

Country of Production:

Belgium / United States

Original Release:

2025

Synopsis

An encyclopedic online resource pairing high-resolution imagery and archival footage with scholarly essays to document the history of film as a physical medium from the dawn of cinema to the present. Facilitated by collaboration between international archives, this dynamic reference, research and teaching tool offers a comprehensive visual guide to every motion picture film format, soundtrack, 3-D system and color process ever invented.

Memories and Dementia – Starting the Conversation

Director:

Rebecca Sandiford / Megan Smith

Producer(s):

Rebecca Sandiford / Megan Smith

Footage Archive Producer:

Victoria Coker (BBC iPlayer) / Lee Butterley (BBC iPlayer) / Carmel Gallagher (BBC Sounds) / Lily Graham (BBC Sounds) / Michael Cosgrave (BBC Archive)

Archival Sources:

BBC Archive

Production Company:

BBC

Country of Production:

United Kingdom

Original Release:

2025

Synopsis

Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation was a digital first BBC season that transformed the BBC Archive into an innovative, user centred tool for wellbeing, directly aligning with FOCAL’s focus on innovative platforms and new forms of archive engagement. Premiering online across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, the project reimagined archival content outside traditional broadcast contexts and introduced personalised access routes tailored to people living with dementia.

At its core was the BBC iPlayer pop up channel, Memories, streaming 24/7 and presenting three decade based collections from the BBC Archive. Curated by era (1960s, 70s, 80s) to reflect audiences’ lived experience, this approach demonstrated innovative archive personalisation, matching users with content from the decade most likely to trigger recognition and reminiscence.

On BBC Sounds, the archive experience expanded through dementia focused collections and themed playlists using archival audio and period defining music to spark memory and support intergenerational conversation.

Developed with leading dementia organisations including Alzheimer’s Society and amplified across BBC television, national radio and local radio, the season brought new audiences to archival content, demonstrating how heritage footage can be redeployed in innovative digital environments to create meaningful social impact.

Memory Bank: Bradford

Director:

Graham Relton / Megan McCooley

Producer(s):

Andy Burns / Ruth Patman

Footage Archive Producer:

Ruth Patman

Archival Sources:

The Yorkshire Film Archive collection

Production Company:

Yorkshire Film Archive at York St John University

Country of Production:

United Kingdom

Original Release:

2025

Synopsis

Memory Bank: Bradford is a complete reminiscence resource using simplicity as a force for innovation, curated for older, underrepresented audiences, including people living with dementia.

Designed for use by care workers across Bradford, the platform comprises a website, conceived with ease of use at its core, plus accompanying user guide. Innovative curation and strong supporting material, enhancing and enriching the footage, are central to its success.

Its nine carefully chosen and curated archive films are brought alive and enhanced by a wealth of information, contained in the user guide (also available to download), including ‘Life and Times’, a vivid snapshot of Bradford through the decades, and thoughtfully crafted film notes designed to spark meaningful conversations during reminiscence sessions.

At specially selected points in each film, Memory Bank’s signature key symbol appears on screen, highlighting interesting discussion topics, enabling audiences to connect the past with the present, rediscover memories, and share stories.

The resource builds on the Archive's original Memory Bank project, delivered on DVD to meet the needs of earlier focus groups. Adapting to technological changes in the care sector, especially those driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, Memory Bank: Bradford now provides a hybrid mix of online and physical resources.