ABSTRACT
It is time to look at British silent film with new eyes. No article on it can apparently be written without alluding to its poor reputation on the international scene, but as we have arrived at a moment of change in the accessibility of historical sources, it’s time to look again. This era of film history will be studied differently from now on, with an unprecedented mass of digitized films being made available on online platforms. Having these primary sources increasingly accessible, as well as an equivalent mass of contemporary contextual material to follow, should broaden out the study of our film heritage in many ways. We will almost certainly pay more attention to non-fiction and short films, which are easier to publish online, and find it easier to make connections between films of different producing companies and countries, which will increasingly internationalize film history. From being an area of film history that has been disregarded by the mainstream, British film may finally be seen in its proper context as something worthy of notice, enjoyment and study.
