Hello and welcome to the London Film Museum website. Have a look around, explore and enjoy. If you need to call us our number is 020 7202 7040.
Open from 10am most days, with 11am opening on Thursday and Sundays.
LOOKING FOR A DAY
|
History of the London Film Museum
The London Film Museum is the only film museum of its kind in Great Britain, supporting the Film Industry and the talent within it. We are self supporting by way of a minimal entry price, reinvesting back into the museum and within the community, creating a number of local area initiatives that also form an important part of the school curriculum.
Our Mission Statement is;
"We are a business that reinvests our surpluses to further social, environmental, educational and cultural objectives. We are a museum that is constantly changing and evolving, improving, and building towards being a flagship Social Enterprise in the Borough of Lambeth."
--------------------------------
The London Film Museum (previously The Movieum) was founded and created by Jonathan Sands in February 2008 following the success of Star Wars The Exhibition to which he co-promoted at the same venue the previous year. About 80% of the museum’s collection is from his private archive.Jonathan began his career as a commercial and advertising photographer, opening his own studio at the age of 17. He moved to the famous Elstree Film Studios as resident photographer in 1997 where he met Nicholas Harrison who owned a prop and events company called Weird and Wonderful.
Starting in 1998 Jonathan worked with Nick Harrison on special projects which included The Aliens Resurrection party at BAFTA and a grand event for the Prince of Malaysia on the set of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace at Leavesden Studios.
Sadly, Nick Harrison passed away at the age of 37 but his legacy lived on.
Jonathan bought the collection and company in 2001 and built it up into a full production company, creating attractions like The Seven Deadly Sins at Thorpe Park and the Chelsea Football Club Centenary Museum at Stamford Bridge. He was invited to help co-ordinate a tie-in at the Monaco Grand Prix between Lucasfilm and Red Bull which included the transportation and installation of full size space crafts, and co-ordination of actors in costumes during the event.
In 2006 Lucasfilm requested that the 30th Anniversary Exhibition be hosted in London and Jonathan was approached by the promoter to host the event which negotiated a short term license to present it at County Hall.
Star Wars The Exhibition opened on May 4th 2007 and was a great success, voted Britain’s No1 family attraction by the Telegraph.
Weird and Wonderful continued to service the film industry with props and set pieces but was falling victim to the CGI technologies which required less physical objects coupled with a diminishing themed events market.
history of the london film museum . ii
Star Wars closed and moved on in January 2008, and Jonathan set about moving his entire collection into County Hall which opened on February 22nd 2008 following the signing of a 25 year lease on 35,000 sq.ft of the first floor, including the historic Debating Chamber.
The then titled Movieum of London opened to a fantastic reception, however the team are determined to constantly improve the offering and create a film museum that is worthy of flying the flag for the Industry and the individuals within it. Everything is done in house from building sets, cabinets, lighting, graphics, and making agreements with 3rd party collectors like the Propstore of London who kindly lent principle material including the original Superman costume and Russell Crowe's Gladiator armour.
In March 2008 Jonathan was introduced to Rick Senat, an ex-senior executive at Warner Bros. and pillar within the British film industry and in March 2009, Rick Senat became Chairman and Jonathan Chief Executive. Rick then formed the Movieum Advisory Panel which included David Robinson (Chaplin’s Biographer and well respected Film Critic), Leslie Hardcastle OBE, (creator of MOMI), Linda Ayton (Fred Zinnerman’s PA) and Ian Christie (Birkbeck University).The first 2 legislations to be passed by the new Advisory Panel was the rebranding to London Film Museum and the approval to create the Chaplin Exhibition.
In January 2010 The Movieum officially changed its name to the London Film Museum and opened the Charlie Chaplin - The Great Londoner exhibition in the same month. The exhibition was completely funded by the Museum.
The Museum has partnerships with the following: Warner Bros, Twentieth Century Fox, Lucasfilm, Paramount, Pinewood Studios, British Film Institute, Film London, The Propstore of London, Getty Images Gallery, Madame Tussauds, Terry English, The Kubrick Foundation and many more.
The museum has now grown, occupying 27,000 sq. ft of it's original lease, with more space planned to open in the not too distant future.
The Museum’s numbers are also growing with over 150,000 visitors to date and many industry events taking place at the venue. In February 2010 the London Film Museum sponsored the Evening Standard British Film Awards which took place in The Debating Chamber. The response to the changes have been fantastic, making the museum an integral part of promoting film and educating children in Britain.
London Film Museum is the copyright of ECM (London) Limited
If you would like to find out more about how you can support or contribute to the Museum, email Lucy Ayton at lucy@londonfilmmuseum.com
Visit museum
New Look Museum
The London Film Museum is located on the first floor of the iconic County Hall opposite Big Ben and next to the London Eye.
Exhibitions
ray harryhausen -
myths and legends
***Extended till June 2012***
We are pleased to announce that on June 29th 2010 the London Film Museum opened its latest exhibition.
Entitled "Ray Harryhausen - Myths and Legends" - the exhibition focuses on the work of the godfather of stop motion animation - Ray Harryhausen.
Indiana Jones (1981)
Magnum star Tom Selleck was almost cast as Indiana before Harrison Ford.
Star Wars (1977)
Christopher Walken was almost cast as
Han Solo
The Godfather (1972)
Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn were almost cast as Vito Corleone before Marlon Brando
James Bond, The Living Daylights (1987)
Pierce Brosnan was almost cast before producers finally chose Timothy Dalton
Magnum star Tom Selleck was almost cast as Indiana before Harrison Ford.
Star Wars (1977)
Christopher Walken was almost cast as
Han Solo
The Godfather (1972)
Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn were almost cast as Vito Corleone before Marlon Brando
James Bond, The Living Daylights (1987)
Pierce Brosnan was almost cast before producers finally chose Timothy Dalton
COMING SOON LIMITED EDITION POSTERS
TWITTER FEED
Getting tweets...
County Hall,
Riverside Building
next to London Eye
South Bank, London SE1
T/ 020 7202 7040
E/ info@londonfilmmuseum.com
W/ londonfilmmuseum.com
Site Creative
by Brand Nu
London Film Museum trademark is the property of ECM (London) Ltd
Copyright ©2011 ECM (London) Limited
Copyright ©2011 ECM (London) Limited