- In October 1952 The National Film Theatre opened on the South Bank of the River Thames, London. Previously known as the Telekinema (which had been built for the Festival of Britain in 1951), the NFT became the UK's national repertory cinema.
- The program guides of the films shown in the NFT were included in CRITICS' CHOICE magazine from 1952 to 1956 (The magazine in this incarnation was subtitled 'An Independent Guide to Film Going').
- Critical comments for each film chosen, by a BFI panel that included Dilys Powell, Josh Billings, Connery Chappell, Paul Dehn, Jympson Harman, Roger Manvell and Richard Winnington.
- Each film entry is given a brief synopsis, partial cast list and a photo from the movie.
- The program guides vary in length.
- From 1957 to 1960 program guides were included in "NATIONAL FILM THEATRE" magazine, later called 'NFT".
- In March 2007 the NFT was relaunched as "BFI Southbank Guide".
