The preservation of cinema is a race against time and chemical decay. Since its founding in 1990 by filmmaker Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation has established itself as a critical force in this race, rescuing over 1,000 films from destruction. By partnering with major Hollywood studios, international archives, and festivals, the non-profit organization ensures that the global heritage of moving images survives for future generations.
Recognizing the urgent threat to African audiovisual history, The Film Foundation partnered with the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) and UNESCO to form the African Film Heritage Project (AFHP). This specialized initiative locates, restores, and distributes 50 films of historic, artistic, and cultural significance to the continent. Notable restorations include Shadi Abdel Salam’s The Night of Counting the Years (Al-Mumia) (1969) and Sarah Maldoror’s Sambizanga (1972). Cultural Impact and Distribution
The foundation’s work spans Hollywood classics, independent features, and rare international masterpieces. Significant restorations include:
Films restored by The Film Foundation are not merely "fixed"—they are reborn. By preserving these cinematic treasures, Martin Scorsese and the foundation ensure that the voices, artistry, and history of the past are never silenced by decay. films restored by the film foundation
Stanley Kubrick’s blistering anti-war masterpiece stars Kirk Douglas as a French commander defending his men against a corrupt military hierarchy. The Film Foundation partnered with UCLA Film & Television Archive to restore this monochrome triumph. The project utilized the original camera negative to crisp up the film’s high-contrast cinematography, revitalizing the harrowing, deeply shadowed tracking shots through the trenches of World War I. Reviving Global and Independent Cinema
Technicians use specialized software to remove scratches, dust, jitter, and flicker frame by frame, taking care not to erase natural film grain.
, established by director Martin Scorsese in 1990, serves as a premier guardian of global cinematic heritage. Over the past three decades, this non-profit organization has partnered with major archives and studios to rescue, restore, and preserve more than 1,000 films. These projects span silent masterpieces, Hollywood classics, avant-garde cinema, and overlooked international gems. By rescuing deteriorating celluloid, the foundation ensures that future generations can experience these moving images as their creators intended. The preservation of cinema is a race against
John Cassavetes’ groundbreaking independent film was restored using a rare 16mm print, preserving the gritty, improvisational energy that birthed modern American independent cinema.
This report examines the history, methodology, and significant achievements of The Film Foundation (TFF), a non-profit organization that has become an indispensable pillar of global cinema preservation.
Directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty, this avant-garde Senegalese masterpiece portrays two lovers dreaming of escaping Dakar for Paris. The WCP restored its vibrant, chaotic colors and complex soundtrack, cementing its status as a pillar of African cinema. Through this initiative
Through this initiative, works by trailblazing filmmakers like Ousmane Sembène, Med Hondo, and Sarah Maldoror are being located, restored, and reintroduced to audiences both within Africa and globally. Restorations like Hondo’s Soleil Ô (1970) and Maldoror’s Sambizanga (1972) have shed new light on the cinematic expressions of decolonization and liberation struggles. The Restoration Process: A Blend of Art and Science
A psychological thriller that influenced modern Korean directors like Bong Joon Ho. Insiang Philippines