Behind the Film - Inside the ILFORD factory 

"actual darkroom footage" loved it

Hope you guys have as much fun watching this as we had making it! -Exploredinary (Sarah Reyes + Daniel Driensky) #longlivefilm

We had such a fantastic time filming this with the hugely talented folks @exploredinary. We also need to say a huge thank you to everyone on site here at Mobberley who helped with the filming. The passion that our staff have for our black and white film and paper and their commitment to making sure that our analogue products are always the highest standard possible shines through. We hope that you all enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Please let us know if you did and please share with your friends.

Anyone who still shooting with film should appreciate the hard work of this dedicated guys

Thank you all Ilford , for your continuity.🥇

This is fantastic, you should do more movies like this. How you produce sheet films, chemicals, everything. Keep film alive! ;-)

My respects to Ilford. It is a lot of hardworking. We need to keep using film, once they are gone, hard to come back. Thank you Ilford for keeping the dream alive.

When I shoot film I have more the feeling of collaboration with the people and company that worked on the emulsion. Way more than when I shoot digital. Seeing this documentary just enhance this feeling of mine. There's a certain form of respect for the work of these people by the photographer, and from the companies to the photographer. When I saw how long most of these people have worked for ILFORD, I can really fell the high level of experience. They know their stuff. Great video, I could have watched an entire hour :)

Literally drooling when they showed all that sweet, sweet 120 black and white being rolled

I'm huge fan ILFORD FILM! please keep making film forever! :-) Good job guys!

Worked for this great company from 1963 for 40 plus years. Glad to see it still making the best products you can buy

As someone born and bred just a few miles from the factory, it's brilliant to see the history and attention to detail. Ilford is, without doubt, my favourite B&W film manufacturer and always will be. Keep on keeping on, Ilford. You're the best.

I have an extreme respect for Ilford. They have helped keep this industry running. I’m only 15 and I shoot both film and digital. That shows that you’ll really find love for film everywhere. I hope film will last.

This was really fantastic and fascinating. I loved seeing how my Ilford film is made and had no idea how much QC went into it.

I am always in love with Ilford for about 45+ years... Will continue to be with this darling...

Greetings to All of you ... from a retired ex-colleague in Marly ... had a great time together ... good luck for the future !

Thank you for keeping film alive !!!!!! Fantastic video !!!!!

I worked for a company that produced the gelatine that went into photographic film. That included making photographic emulsion to test it. You have to spend a good deal of time working in total darkness yet, surprisingly, it's amazing how quickly you can work in such conditions. Loved every second of it.

Thank you ILFORD ! We all love you ❤

I use Ilford since the late Sixties, it was moving watching these images, thank you

Make me so proud that I'm not only using a fantastic product but also using a 100% British product. I only use ilford. Thank you for all your hard work in producing an outstanding film.

I have to say, I had thought Ilford had gone the way of so many other non-digital companies, but it's great to see they are still going. Their film still has a special place in my heart from learning photography as a boy, and later doing my own developing and printing. The real groundbreaker for me was the Ilfospeed resin coated papers that gave such stunning finishes. Long may you continue!

At a time when the true origin of many film products is unknown and brands are invented or revival of past glories with random prices, Ilford remains our true and only certainty for quality black and white film and paper. Thank you for opening the doors of your legendary factory to us. Keep it up!

What a great company. Simple product. Do it big. Has supported the industry and the families who work for it for generations.

Feels so good to know that analogue photography is back and doing well.

In 1954 at the age of 15 I joined GEC who were in Kingsway WC2, the Ilford Showroom was next door and here I spent every spare lunchtime. Great to find this film!

Lovely made Ilford Factory Tour, thanks much for the Insight! I do hope Ilford does survive during the next Decades to come. Film is real ! #longlivefilm

Amazing video!... and thank you for keeping the legacy alive!

Ilford photo, Harman technology. National Treasure.

Engaging documentary . Huge respect for the company and staff for the dedication to quality.Thank you.

Nice to have been able to see part of Room 14 again, the sketch on the wall was energising, as the last time I saw 14 was under construction was in 1983 at Mobberley in Cheshire, as I was going to relocate when it’s site at Brentwood in Essex was to be closed. I’m a former employee of Ilford Films, and worked at it’s former Woodman Road factory, first at the Emulsion making block, then in the Pan Wash, having also worked in various warehouses sites at Brentwood, eventually moved the the Coating dept, not the Melters, mainly within the Reeling Chambers of Rooms 12 and 14, sometimes the Stockpoints, I also worked in Room 14. Within Room 14 I worked in with the Stockpoint or Reeling chamber, even to this day, I can recall the noise of the massive drying bays, raw based films were hoisted over a skit in the wall from a warehouse on site into the Stockpoint in what was know as ‘White light’. The reason why Room 14 was called ‘14’ was due to old coating machines at Brentwood, when I arrived in the middle of 1979, only rooms 12 and 13 were in operation, others closed before I arrived, as were used to store raw-based film from the makers.

My Grandfather used Ilford, my parents used Ilford, I am using Ilford (right know loaded with 3200), my little son knows the ilford. Name that never fails you. Love it for generations

Thank you for this. Factory documentaries are always fascinating, but even more so when it’s about the film currently in my camera. Now I know a little about the people who produced it, and because of that I’m going to enjoy shooting it just a little more from now on.

Having started my working life as a Lab Technician in the brand new R&D Labs at Ilford, Mobberley in 1983, this was a fascinating film. I moved on in 1987, but still keep in contact with some former colleagues. The video doesn't really show how long machine No. 14 is - the length is incredible to ensure the emulsion sets and dries. Great video, happy memories, keep up the good work.

ILFORD is a leading company in the photography industry and I have worked with her products for over 30 years and I love them very much.

i shoot & develop your films (120 & 35 mm) for 40 years with same pleasure. Congratulations. Continue with the same convictions as long as you can. You are a key actor of photography history. Thanks a lot.

Please keep doing what you are doing Ilford, you´re keeping history alive. And my Cameras happy :) Thanks for sharing.

Very many thanks to all the staff for doing what you do. Been using your products for 35+ years. Excellence and dependability!

This makes me love Ilford even more!!!!! Please never stop creating film for us!!!!

I've been shooting with ILFORD film since 1980, the results are always amazing.

I know there a snowball's chance, but I would love to see 220 film come back. I'll be your first customer! My 220 Nikkor tanks & reels are just sitting on the shelf!

Love you folks from Ilford for keeping film alive!

Your hard work and dedication to your craft is great appreciated , Thank you for everything you do for the film community.

You all are amazing Ilford! Thank you!

Ilford, in my opinion, has always been the bomb with its wide array of film offerings to us folk still wanting to capture images on film. I've been with Ilford products since my early start in photography in 1972. Thankyou for giving me a lifetime of fun. Believe me when I tell you I have some 40 year old stock still in my freezer. 12 % additional development time is all that's needed.

Really enjoyed the short time we got to work with 120 film in our Mamiya RZ67 in school. The coolest moment for sure was the short glow you get when ripping of the tape in the dark room. And the worst moment was dropping the film while trying to feed it onto the reel.

This is absolutely beautiful... ...as are the hard-working and loyal folk in the Mobberley factory!

Kevin is the uncle you have to be proud of to have in your family. I’ve been using 120 since the early 2000, and I’m grateful to be a long time customer of Ilford. 3200 is my go to film as I prefer to pull it to 800-1600. :)

WOW! When I got my first camera as a birthday gift in 1965 (9th year) I got 2 rolls of Ilford B&W 100 ASA film, and I kept using Ilford film as it was cheaper than Kodak for many years untiol the brand went off the shelves locally. All my photography learning curve and most of my kid and teen memories are still on Ilford negatives. Great memories. Greetings from Paraguay, SoAm.

Used my first Ilford film in the late 70s and have never had a bad one to date, great company others talk film but Ilford do it. Hate to think what would happen to the world film community if they ever disappeared, keep supporting them folks.Great video and great company.

Wow this brings back memories! During the years from 1986 to 1998 I worked (as Quality Manager) for a large photo processing group in their ancillary laboratory where we carried out all of the B&W processing and printing for the company. We used Ilford paper and chemicals as well as processing thousands of Ilford B&W films of all formats. During a visit to Mobberley I had a tour of the factory and was amazed at the size of the site. There was a golf buggy in use to carry visitors from one building to another! I remember walking around in the area where there was light-sensitive material, using a dull red torch to follow lines on the floor so we didn't get lost. I have always been a keen photographer and moved to a digital camera when the silver halide industry went into decline (sorry!). However I have recently bought an old Nikon F2 and started using film again. My favourite film? ... HP5. Happy days!

Incredible. Takes me back to having boxes of Ilford paper in college and university, still got some boxes here now I think. Love this.

Brilliant documentary, superbly shot. Love HP5. Great work by the dedicated Ilford staff. Cheers, from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I mean come on, what's not to love about this!! Long live XP2!!

Since I started making photos on black and white, many and many years ago, Ilford is my film of choice. After decades without photographing on film I´ve returned last month and brought some HP5 exposed and can´t wait to see the results once again. Lots of antecipation I must confess. Thanks for sharing the make of my favorite films. From Brazil I send a warm regard to all involved in the production and managment. I appreciat a lot your job.

Fun to see Don’s Photo in here, as I just recently bought some ilford film there!

Thank you so much Ilford. I've used your film for many years, and I can only speak to how awesome your products are! Especially thank you to the Staff at Mobberley, who make this possible, and the team at Exploredinary for their beautiful work.

Great Great stuff! Hope ilford is enjoying the surge in film!

Ilford Pan F and FP 3 were my favourite films in the Sixties. A dozen of Ilford 9 x 12 cm glass plates I bought in 1965.

Wow! Didn’t know all this went into making your film. Excellent documentary! When I put my first roll of HP5 into my Canon T70 and had it developed and scanned, I was in B&W heaven - I’ll never go back! Thanks Ilford!!

I remember working in the drawing office at Ilford Film in 1986, designing improvements to the film production line. One of the interesting projects, was designing and installing the two hydraulic cylinders on the accumulator, I think that is what was called. Just lying on the floor whilst it was going up and down, it was a little bit scary.

HEY ILFORD....KEEP MAKING THAT FILM!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!

The entire experience of shooting with film is something digital photography can never reproduce!!

Thank you so much for this video! I use Ilford films since the 80's when I started my career in photography. Love HP5 particularly. Now I know how you make your magic!!

Very interesting to see how much work and dedication is involved in making these films. The folks at the Ilford factory definitely have some of the coolest jobs!

Hi, what a great video. Keep up the amazing work! I look forward to your next video.

Many thanks to the ladies of and gentleman at Ilford! Nice work on this documentary!

we are endlessly thankfull to the town of mobberley and especially to all the contributing workers who make these great ilford products. you guys are worth diamonds, much love !!!!

Beautiful work you all do! Thanks so much for letting us use your products and enjoy it to produce our art!

Truly amazing! In 36 years of shooting film I have never had a bad roll of Ilford.... now I know why! Thanks for immortalising the staff on film at the end and oh, I especially enjoyed the 'actual dark room footage'

What goes into creating film is simply magic

Magic and superb quality - I worked in Ilford for 30+ years and this so evocative of that time, remember M14 man Kevin Hodgson from when in R+D. The technology is mature now, but your clips of the fantastic kit show well what an incredibly technological product people are using. Amazed to see roll film still in production, backing paper rarely mentioned, yet the source of much angst in my day following complaints from the illustrious David Bailey. 35mm high-speed slitter sourced from Agfa engineers, I was lucky to meet their teams in Germany, we had Slivovitz competitions! Well done and thank you.

Fantastic and long may they continue! Life without Ilford not worth living! 👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Ah, memories, thanks for that! I've just been digitising some Ilford FP3 and HP3 35mm and 120 negs from the 1960s. I still have the Ilford print boxes from those days with 8*10 prints stored in them. Great company, glad to see it's still going.

I worked at Ilfords in Mobberley for over 10 years. Great group of people

I'm a french guy using view cameras, medium format and small format cameras as well. Ilford has always been my choice because their films are just amazing. So Happy birthday Ilford ! You have my inconditionnal and active support, I'll keep buying your films and sheet films ( from 4x5 to 8x10) fresh from the factory. On another hand I wonder how many people working in the factory are shooting film... Must be great to shoot a film you work on...

3:17 It makes me feel pleasent chills. Amazing footage... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

It’s pretty incredible the work that goes into making a roll of film. I’m guessing film must still be very popular. Great respect for these people who are working to keep film alive. Long may it continue.

Amazing film featuring our beloved emulsions, and of course the hardworking staff at Mobberley! Would like to show this in the future as teaching material for my photography class. And of course, once the exercises happen, Iʼll definitely order Ilford film for my students!

What a story ....... Love you ILFORD ......... Pls do more

This was truly interesting to see - very well made video! Thank you Ilford for continuing to make great products I’ve used for over a decade!

This beautifully-made video shows perfectly how Harman has succeeded in keeping their great Ilford products alive. The dedication and care with which the people at Mobberley is impressive. Long may it continue!

Thanks Ilford crew for the wonderful work and keeping up with ramping global demand during this pandemic. Your film is the only one I've been able to reliably source during these times.

Watching this I have an OM1n sat on my desk with PanF50 in and My OM10 loaded with XP2 Super. It's good to see that not all British manufactures have gone to the wall and these products are still available, I'm 69 and still get a kick out of developing my own film to scan and print. Long may it last.!

Now I know where my favorite film comes from. Thank you guys for your work, I'll keep using your excellent product to create my best pictures. Best regards from Berlin!

I just bought a used Olympus XA camera. It was one of my first cameras back in the early 80's. Wish I kept my original, but I gave it to my nephew, who now shoots it. I'll be shooting some ILFORD in the coming weeks. Looking forward to reinvigorating my love for shooting with film and that Olympus XA.

Love ILFORD films and paper too. I still have some unopened HP5 Plus 400 and Delta 100 films. Amazing films with Oriental Seagull papers too.

Well made this documentary film! I love the quality of film photography, nothing compares to it.

What a fantastic documentary! Beautifully photographed, lit, and edited. A tip of the hat to the production company and to the people at Ilford of course! They're clearly a group of dedicated individuals! As an Ilford film user it's great to see how much work and science goes into making film. Thanks for sharing the documentary! And thanks for helping to keep film alive!

Ilford is really, REALLY good film, it's nice to finally see the people who make it what it is

Worked at Ilford Ltd from 1976 until 1983 as a research technician at Warley and Brentwood. My first job after leaving school after my A's. Happiest time of my life, doing what I enjoyed most... working with B+W films and paper. Had a great boss, (Dave Holland), and the best bunch of colleagues. Always regretted not moving to Mobberly after the Essex sites closed. Wish I could go back in time and change that decision!

It is great to see that Ilford Photo is still producing real film in this digital age. I used Iford in the late 70s in my Minolta SR101. Best wishes to you all at Ilford.

As a long time Ilford HP5+ user, I find it fascinating to see the "behind-the-scene" so to speak of making one of my favorite films. Film is definitely not dead #keepfilmalive #filmisnotdead

we appreciate your commitment to film photography!

Thank you for making this video, it was a wonderful look at the process and gave me a new respect and appreciation for those who continue to keep film on the shelves.

Some 40 odd years ago I was the darkroom technician / quality controller in a small east coast seaside town in Yorkshire processing all the colour (C35 process) and black and white films and transparencies, before passing the processed films onto the girls making the actual paper prints. I remember it was such a great time for me at the tender age of 17.....! 🤔

This is absolutely fantastic! I was gonna sell my Nikon F3, but after watching this I think I’ll keep it instead, and get more film for it. The person that disliked this video must be upset about the darkroom scene. 🤣

I love you all!! Thank you so much for your work!

Just getting back into film after over a decade of shooting digital. You have my business. Thank you for still being there for me after all this time

I love ILFORD!! Film photographers are in good hands!