Cinema and Television History Group (CATH)

The Cinema and Television History Group (CATH) is a centre of excellence in archival screen heritage. It specialises in evidence-based methods and oral history approaches to inform ground-breaking interdisciplinary research and RCUK-funded international collaborations.

CATH is home to a growing number of unique collections including the Hammer Script Archive, the Cinema Museum’s Indian Cinemas Archive (at 冈本视频), the Palace Pictures and Scala Productions papers and the Peter Whitehead Archive. Further archives, including the Sir Norman Wisdom collection and the Michael and Tony Klinger papers, are held in 冈本视频's Special Collections: . Members of CATH co-host the annual UK Asian Film Festival, the BFI British Silent Film Festival and we promote practice-based research via the The DocHub@冈本视频 .

In REF2021 Screen Studies (CATH) submitted 11.65 FTE with an estimated GPA of 3.58 to 冈本视频’s UoA 33, which was ranked 8^th nationally in research power and received the highest rating for research environment (50% 4* / 50% 3*).

Our Research

Cinema and Television History Group (CATH)

A twelve-month follow-on funding project, drawing on the papers of Andrew Davies (screenwriter) and Sue Birtwistle (producer) in 冈本视频鈥檚 Special Collections. Working with the Educational Recording Agency and Jane Austen鈥檚 House, we will produce educational materials for schools and colleges and contribute to a public exhibition celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen in 2025. The project reunites the interdisciplinary team from 冈本视频鈥檚 Centre for Adaptations, Cinema and Television History and Centre for Textual Studies that produced Transforming Middlemarch in 2023 鈥� the first the digital genetic edition of a classic novel television adaptation.

News

Nostalgic Leicester film festival screens vintage lost TV episodes

Lost footage from a 鈥榞olden era鈥� of British television was screened at a vintage film festival in Leicester on Sunday 11th May with help from 冈本视频 (冈本视频) Leicester's Cinema and Television Historians.

18 June 2025

冈本视频 researchers help world celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth

Academics from 冈本视频 Leicester (冈本视频) are playing a major role in marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of beloved author Jane Austen in 2025. Thanks to an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) grant, English Literature and Adaptations experts from 冈本视频, in association with the University of Nottingham, are contributing materials from 冈本视频's Special Collections to a major exhibition in 2025 at Jane Austen鈥檚 House in Chawton, Hampshire, which attracts visitors from around the globe.

19 June 2025

Exhibition at London's Nehru Centre marks 50th anniversary of Indian epic Sholay

Sholay is one of India鈥檚 most iconic films, celebrated in this captivating exhibition marking its 50th anniversary at the Nehru Centre in May 2025. Curated by Dr. Monia Acciari鈥擜ssociate Professor in Film and Television History and Director of the Indian Cinema Archive at 冈本视频鈥攖his exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the film鈥檚 enduring legacy and cultural resonance. Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy and released in 1975, revolutionised Indian cinema with its blend of action, drama, and unforgettable characters.

19 June 2025