The Global History of Film Preservation
Trace the evolution of moving image archiving from the early days of silent film disposal to modern international treaties.
During the first decades of cinema, motion pictures were viewed as disposable commercial products. Preserving them was rarely considered, leading to a tragic loss of early cinematic history.
The Era of Neglect
In the silent era, studios routinely melted down old film prints to reclaim silver, or simply threw them into the ocean or local dumps. It is estimated that over 75% of all silent films produced are lost forever due to this systemic neglect.
The Birth of the Film Archive
In the 1930s, passionate film collectors and curators began establishing the first formal film archives. These pioneers recognized cinema as a vital cultural art form, laying the groundwork for the modern global preservation network.