The Imperial War Museum Film and Video Archive (IWMFVA) provides access to all the material in its collections, subject only to normal copyright restrictions and the prior demands of its preservation programme.

Access is allowed either for commercial usage or for strictly non-commercial usage. "Commercial" users are those whose intentions with regard to the material extend to theatrical, broadcast or "sell-through" usage of any kind. "Non-commercial" users are those conducting research or tracing film of themselves or of close relatives, and those involved in education. Details of services and charges for commercial users are in all cases available from the Production Office; other users are dealt with by the Public Services section. Please contact the Production Office on 020 7416 5291 / 5292 first if you are not certain into which category your particular use will fall.

FILM AND VIDEO VIEWING

FILM VIEWING (PREVIEW THEATRE)
The Preview Theatre seats 22 comfortably; 25 is an absolute maximum. Viewing is by appointment only. While a charge may be made for this service, many categories of customer qualify for free viewing. Missed appointments will be charged for or otherwise penalised. All prices are subject to VAT.

General public:

• Per Person: £ 5.00 per half-day session
• Groups (5 or more): £ 20.00 for a half-day or £ 30.00 for a full-day.
• Note: Cancellation fee: 100%

One day's free viewing is available to:

• veterans and their close relatives
• filmmakers (and their close relatives) viewing their own film
• lecturers in universities and colleges of higher education
• students in higher education (with letter from Director of Studies)
• school students (with letter from Head of Year or Subject)

Non-fee paying customers who fail to keep appointments or who cancel at less than three working days notice will not be allowed another booking for four full weeks. Repeated failures from the same school or college may result in that institution being embargoed by the IWMFVA.

FILM VIEWING (STEENBECK CUBICLES)
Steenbeck cubicles are normally only available to non-commercial users to allow them to select stills or sequences for copying (see below). They are otherwise not used for Public Access viewing unless the Preview Theatre is not available.

VIDEO VIEWING
The Preview Theatre is equipped for video projection and may be used for group viewing. Charges are as for film.

The Video Viewing Room will accommodate individuals or (occasionally) small groups of up to three people. When more than one monitor is in use, visitors will be asked to use headphones. Cancellation policy is as for film viewing above. Charges are as follows:

General public: £5.00 (+ VAT) per half-day session
One day's free viewing is allowed for other categories as specified for film viewing above.

FILM AND VIDEO LOANS

FILM AND VIDEO LOANS (NON-THEATRIC)
Video and 16mm prints of a representative selection of films from the IWMFVA are available for hire. This scheme is restricted to properly-equipped non-theatric users such as educational institutions, veterans' groups and film societies. Films and videos are not loaned directly to students but only through a tutor, lecturer or faculty office. A copy of the loan scheme catalogue, price list, questionnaire and request form can be accessed below. The completed request form and questionnaire needs to be returned to: Film Loans, Film and Video Archive, Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ.

Important notes:

• Films and videos are lent on the strict understanding that they will not be copied. Any organisation found copying IWMFVA material will be embargoed from all further access to the collection. Video copies of material in the loan scheme are protected electronically and "in picture".
• Borrowers are required to fill in an indemnity form which states that all damage to film prints or video cassettes must be paid for.
• Other conditions of loan are detailed in the Catalogue.

FILM LOANS (THEATRIC)
35mm and 16mm prints of films from the IWMFVA collection may be hired by established bona-fide cinemas and film theatres subject to normal copyright law and the IWMFVA's own conservation rules. Please ask the Public Services section for details of titles available and charges.

Download the Film and Video Archive Loan Catalogue [.pdf]

Film and Video Loan Request Form [.pdf]

Film and Video Hire Rates [.pdf]

Response Form [.pdf]

STILL PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographic enlargements ("frame blow-ups") of images from IWMFVA films can be prepared by the darkrooms of the IWM Photograph Archive. Users select frames to be reproduced in a Steenbeck viewing session (see above) and are liable to the normal charges of the Photograph Archive for processing, with an additional fee for negative processing. An additional fee is also payable if the photograph is to be used in any form of publication. Copy prints of stills previously selected by other users may be ordered without incurring negative processing costs. IWMFVA has a database recording details of several hundred extant "frame blow-ups" which is available for consultation.

VIDEO COPIES (GENERAL PUBLIC)

Whole films or extracts from films in the collection (unless under copyright restriction) may be copied onto PAL VHS video cassette for the private use of certain types of individual non-commercial user only. All such video copies have the IWM's initials "burnt in" one corner of the image.

Requests for material to be copied to a video system other than PAL or a video standard other than VHS will be referred to a commercial video facility, in which case the user will be liable in full for that facility's normal charges. IWMFVA reserves the right to add its own handling charges in such cases.

When extracts only are to be copied, users will select the appropriate material in a Steenbeck viewing session (see above).

Users receiving this service are expected to provide their own good-quality blank tape: if IWMFVA has to provide a tape, a surcharge of £ 5.00 will be added to the charges listed below. All prices are subject to VAT.

Note that a reel of film corresponds to approximately 10 minutes playing time.

General public:

• £ 40.00 for a single reel
• £ 80.00 for two reels
• £ 20.00 for each additional reel

Veterans (and their close relatives) etc:

• £ 15.00 for a single reel
• £ 5.00 for each additional reel

IWMFVA does not allow the use of private camcorders to record images from its projection or viewing screens. Such images may be included in the background (for example, when a camera is brought to record an individual's reactions to a film) only by arrangement with the IWMFVA and at IWMFVA's discretion.

VIDEO COPIES (SPECIAL CASES)

Museums:
IWMFVA is pleased to provide video copies of material for usage in gallery displays in other established museums, provided that the recipient museum formally agrees:

• that its usage will be strictly non-commercial
• that it will make no copies of IWMFVA-supplied material (beyond what is required to edit the material for its intended usage)
• that it will credit the Imperial War Museum as the source of the film in any caption, exhibition catalogue etc
• that the IWM's initials will be "burnt in" throughout the copy supplied.

Museums will be charged at half the "general public" rate listed above.

Artists:
Video copies of material will normally be provided for inclusion in multi-media installations subject to the same conditions as those outlined above for museums. IWMFVA recognises that artists may feel the IWM 'burnt in'  initials detracts from a work, and will consider requests for exemption from this condition. IWMFVA reserves the right to consult the Museum's own Department of Art about the merits of this and other aspects of artists' applications.

Academic/educational:
Video copies will not normally be made for students or others in the educational sector, who are encouraged instead to make use of the in-house viewing services and/or the Loan Scheme (see above).

Art/film students:
Exceptions may be made to the above policy for students who wish to use archive material in projects which are a direct part of their course of studies. Material will be released on a strictly non-commercial basis on the same terms as those listed above for Museums or Artists. The student must agree to the following special conditions:

• that the application will be confirmed in writing by his/ her Tutor or Director of Studies
• that IWMFVA will be informed as soon as he/she begins to seek or is offered any form of commercial distribution for a video project: a new contract and an additional fee will be required at this time
• that in the case of film/video projects, a copy of the finished work must be given to IWMFVA.

Teaching staff at colleges etc are expected to ensure that students comply with these conditions. Failure to do so will result in IWMFVA refusing all future cooperation of any kind with students or staff at the institution concerned.

Computer programs, CD-ROMs, Internet usage etc:
Usage of moving images from the IWMFVA collection in any form of computer software, in CD-ROMs and other interactive devices, in websites and other uses of the Internet and in all other forms of new technology/new media is not available to non-commercial users. All such applications must be referred to the Production Office. Note that, as a matter of general policy, IWMFVA does not release footage for inclusion in games.

Societies:
Video copies will not normally be made for societies of enthusiasts, whether they be literary, musical, cinematic or military in their interests: societies are instead invited to arrange special group screenings at the IWM, or to request a special loan screening on their own premises. IWMFVA reserves the right to insist that an Archive representative attend own-premises screenings.

An exception may be made to this ruling, at the IWMFVA's discretion, in the case of Veterans' Groups who have requested excerpts from IWMFVA titles for inclusion in videos the usage of which will be restricted to non-theatric screenings or to distribution limited to members only. Associations with such requests are asked to apply in writing to the Public Access section. Copies will be charged at the rate of £15.00 (+ VAT) per reel of film handled; copying will normally follow one or more viewing sessions to select the material required.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Public Services	020 7416 5293 or 5294
Production Office	020 7416 5291 or 5292
Keeper	020 7416 5290
Acquisitions enquiries	020 7416 5289
FAX (all staff)	020 7416 5299