Battle of Arras (1917) shortlisted for Archive Restoration Award
We are delighted that the digital restoration of The German Retreat and Battle of Arras (1917) has been shortlisted for a prestigious FOCAL International Award in the Archive Restoration and Preservation Category.
The 74-minute film was restored by IWM over five years to match the original version, shown in British cinemas during the First World War.
Key Details of the Restoration, Film and UK Premiere
This restored film, documenting the British Army's Easter offensive on the Western Front, was created through a collaboration between IWM and the University of Udine. The UK premiere was screened at BFI Southbank on 12 April 2026, featuring a new score by Laura Rossi, made possible by the generous support of The David Lean Foundation.
The screening was introduced by Dr Toby Haggith and featured music performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London and the Guildhall Session Singers, conducted by John Gibbons.
UK premiere of Battle of Arras restoration at BFI Southbank. Photo: Mike Bailey
The feature-length film is the third in a trilogy using footage shot during the First World War
It documents the British Army’s campaigns in France and Belgium, produced by the Topical Film Company for the War Office Cinematograph Committee. Unlike Battle of the Somme (1916) and Battle of the Ancre (1917), Arras was less well known, depicting the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. The film includes extensive footage of the destruction in and around the city of Arras, France.
Shot by four official war cameramen—Geoffrey Malins, Harry Raymond, John McDowell, and Herbert Baldwin - the restored version includes the original, raw camera shakes caused by the vibrations of heavy bombardment.
A special feature is the use of colour: red intertitles and hand-coloured sections add mood, highlight the explosions and add a realistic naturalism to certain shots.
The Battle of Arras in World War One
The 1917 Battle of Arras (April 9 – May 17) was a major British-led offensive on the Western Front, designed to break German lines and support a wider French attack. While achieving initial, significant successes—most notably the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadian forces—the operation turned into a costly war of attrition, with over 300,000 casualties and minimal strategic breakthrough. Its survivors described the Battle of Arras as one of the war’s most savage infantry battles. Yet it has since been dubbed the “forgotten battle”, somehow eclipsed by the Somme and Passchendaele, although it had even higher daily casualty rates than both of those.
IWM films are available for public screenings
To request a digital cinema package (DCP), or for any questions regarding IWM's collections, please contact the Image & Film Licensing team.
Find out more
The Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Galleries at IWM London has a dedicated Screening Space, showcasing IWM’s historical film collection, including The German Retreat and Battle of Arras.