POSTWAR Britain experienced massive political, economic, social, technological and architectural changes.

This free film screening includes professional and amateur films that highlight some of these changes focusing mainly on the built environment.

Across Britain social policy changes were being implemented to rapidly address the postwar housing shortages. In 1946 the New Town Act was introduced. In 1964, the Harlow Development Corporation commissioned a film entitled Faces of Harlow (1964) to promote this policy, its benefits and utopian aspirations.

To meet the rapid demands for more housing and new architectural designs there was a requirement for manufacturers to produce large volumes of concrete. In 1973, Bison, one of the country’s largest concrete companies at that time, commissioned several promotional industrial films to showcase their technologies and product portfolios.

These films were directed by the well-known British documentary filmmakers Derrick Knight and John Chittock. Established actors such as Alan Dobie, Deryck Guyler, Hugh Burden were employed for the film voiceovers. The organisations behind these films had the financial capability and marketing resources to produce professional films to a high standard.

In contrast amateur filmmakers from the Harlow Cine Club produced a film in 1970 about residents different living experiences at Bishopsfield in Harlow. This film immerses the viewer in the exterior and interior architectural spaces through a spatial tour of the site. This lower budget production was funded by Harlow Arts Council grant.

These films through different filmmaking techniques provide different perspectives that address aspects of urban planning, living, design and manufacture of buildings materials. Other films will also be referenced during the film screening that reside in the East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) and are available for viewing.