This film is part of Free
Our Business Is Fun
Meet Futuristic Fred, the celebrated fairground artist from Streatham.
Overview
A filmic encounter with Futuristic Fred, Britain's most revered fairground artist. Captured at work decorating a ride in his studio in Streatham, London, Fred Fowle (1914-1983) pays tribute to the cinema posters, adverts and graphic novels that inspired his designs. His signature vibrant, three-dimensional style has been widely celebrated and chimes with the current resurgence of traditional steam-powered fairground rides.
Director Michael Whyte has worked prolifically in documentary and drama since the 1970s, making films which span an array of social issues. Scream Quietly or the Neighbours Will Hear (1974), also available on BFI Player, tackles domestic violence, while Catherine (1985) is a drama about the tragic story of a girl who died from anorexia. More recently, No Greater Love (2010) explored the quiet lives of Carmelite nuns in Notting Hill.
Related
Jumping over Tennis Net Jumping over Tennis Net
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
The grown-ups of the Passmore clan let out their inner children as they leap over a tennis net in this early home movie
Streatham Children's Pageant Streatham Children's Pageant
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
Time for Britannia to get off the bus - the Queen is coming to Streatham
Flying a Kite Flying a Kite
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
Silver Blades Ice Skating Silver Blades Ice Skating
Promotional 1963 7 mins Location: Streatham
Streatham goes dancing on ice at the coolest place in town.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.