The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

People from the Rotherham Photographic Society Exhibition at the Drill Hall
An intriguing and enigmatic early short film of photographers taking themselves as subjects having discovered the joys of moving image.
From the collection of:

Overview
An ‘actuality film’ taken on the eve of the First World War in 1914, when moving image was still something of a novelty, and making films a very exclusive affair. Perhaps not entirely sure how to present themselves, these Rotherham photographers choose the traditional marching in a single file and the classic group pose.
Nothing is exactly known about this film: who took it, when or where; or, indeed, who the people in the film are. It may be that someone in the Rotherham Photographic Society had recently acquired a cine camera and was putting it to the test, and thereby preserving for posterity images of the members of the Society. Photographic societies were usually the source from where amateur filmmakers and cine clubs would spring from, which looks like the case here.
Related

Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901) Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
Edwardian workers react to the camera at one of Rotherham's major employers.

Packhorse Packhorse
Lifestyle show 1986 25 mins Location: River Don
Naturalist Michael Clegg retraces the paths of merchants who travelled from Cheshire to Rotherham with their goods.

The Modest Millionaire The Modest Millionaire
Documentary 1985 25 mins Location: Swinton
A genuinely fascinating businessman, with workman’s hands, an old battered Austin, still labouring at 77, and keeping many a church going.

Rotherham Services Procession Rotherham Services Procession
Non-Fiction 1942 9 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
This is an absorbing film of a Remembrance Day service and procession in Rotherham, unusual in being held in wartime, and made more poignant for being so.

Rationalising City Transportation Rationalising City Transportation
Promotional 1930 13 mins Silent Location: Wolverhampton
Quieter than a diesel bus, more manoeuvrable than a tram. The Guy trolley bus is the answer to all your transport problems and they're 'perfectly safe up to 40mph'.

Rotherham up to Date Rotherham up to Date
Promotional 1961 39 mins Location: Rotherham
An absorbing picture of council services at the beginning of the 1960s, with babies getting polio jabs and girls having braces fitted, while Roots is playing at the Civic Theatre.

Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.

We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.

If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.

Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.

Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.

NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.