Films Restored By The Film Foundation – No Password
Film Foundation , founded by Martin Scorsese in 1990, has supported the preservation and restoration of over 1,100 films
[10, 11]. Its work spans Hollywood classics, independent films, and international masterpieces through its World Cinema Project. Recent and Notable Restorations
Below are some of the most recently highlighted restorations or major "rediscoveries" supported by the foundation: Days and Nights in the Forest Aranyer Din Ratri
, 1970): A 4K restoration of Satyajit Ray’s masterpiece, recently showcased at the New York Film Festival and the Kolkata International Film Festival [2, 3]. Chess of the Wind Shatranj-e baad
, 1976): A significant cinematic rediscovery from Iran that was long believed lost; it was restored in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna [7]. The Stranger and the Fog Gharibeh va Meh
, 1974): A restoration of Bahram Beyzaie’s Iranian classic, funded by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation and recently screened at the Smithsonian Mortu Nega
(1988): A notable restoration of Flora Gomes' film from Guinea-Bissau [2]. Black Girl films restored by the film foundation
3. "A Brighter Summer Day" (1991) – Edward Yang’s Lost Epic
This is a unique entry, as it is a "modern" film (1991) that was almost lost due to neglect. Edward Yang’s four-hour Taiwanese masterpiece was stored in a warehouse that flooded. Only one 35mm print existed in decent condition, and it was scratched and faded. The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project (a division started in 2007) stepped in. They worked with the Cineteca di Bologna and Taiwan’s archives to scan the original negative, which had turned yellow. After a digital reconstruction that took over a year, the film was re-released in 2016. Critics hailed it as the greatest film of the 1990s, a title it could only claim because The Film Foundation saved it.
The Technical Miracle: How They Do It
To understand the value of these restorations, one must understand the labor.
- The Vinegar Syndrome: Many acetate films from the 50s-70s smell like vinegar as they decay. Restorers freeze them to stop the chemical reaction.
- Wet-Gate Scanning: For scratched films, restorers run the film through a liquid gate that fills scratches with fluid momentarily to hide them during the digital scan.
- The "Soundtrack" Problem: Many restored films have perfect picture but hissing, crackling audio. The Foundation’s audio team rebuilds soundtracks using variable-area optical scanning, recovering frequencies that haven't been heard since the first premiere.
The River (1951) – Jean Renoir (France/India)
Renoir’s first color film was shot in India using early Eastmancolor, a notoriously unstable stock. By the 1990s, the film had turned completely magenta. TFF’s restoration involved scanning the faded negatives and digitally recoloring each shot based on Renoir’s original notes and paint samples. The result is a luminous, dreamlike vision of India that looked lost forever.
How You Can Support the Mission
Preservation is an ongoing process. The Film Foundation estimates that half of all American films made before 1950 and over 90% of films made before 1929 are lost forever. By supporting the foundation, attending screenings of restored classics, or purchasing restoration Blu-rays/DVDs, you help ensure that the language of cinema remains spoken for generations to come.
To learn more about their work or to donate, visit filmfoundation.org.
Since its founding by Martin Scorsese in 1990, The Film Foundation (TFF) has restored or preserved over 1,100 films, safeguarding the world’s cinematic heritage. By partnering with archives, studios, and international organizations, the foundation ensures that classic and endangered films are returned to their original visual and auditory brilliance for future generations. Key Restoration Programs Film Foundation , founded by Martin Scorsese in
The Film Foundation operates through several specialized initiatives to address the diverse needs of film preservation:
World Cinema Project (WCP): Launched in 2007, this program focuses on restoring films from regions with limited preservation resources, including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. To date, it has restored 64 films from 31 countries.
African Film Heritage Project (AFHP): A collaboration with UNESCO and FEPACI, this initiative identifies and restores African cinema of high cultural and historical significance.
Avant-Garde Masters: In partnership with the National Film Preservation Foundation, this grant supports the preservation of experimental and independent American films.
The Story of Movies: An educational curriculum that has reached over 10 million students, teaching film language and the importance of preservation. Notable Restored Films
The foundation has revitalized everything from Hollywood blockbusters to rare international masterpieces. Highlighted restorations include: Preserved/Restored Films - The Film Foundation The Vinegar Syndrome: Many acetate films from the
The "Million Foot" Problem: Nitrate Decay
While the above films are famous, TFF also focuses on orphans—newsreels, avant-garde shorts, and forgotten B-movies. Notably, TFF funded the preservation of early experimental films by Maya Deren (Meshes of the Afternoon) and silent features by Oscar Micheaux, the first major African-American filmmaker.
Scorsese often notes that nitrate film (used from 1889 to 1951) doesn't just fade; it turns to dust or spontaneously combusts. Every time TFF restores a title, they are racing against a chemical clock.
3. Sanshiro Sugata (1943) – Akira Kurosawa
Kurosawa’s directorial debut was believed lost forever after Allied bombings destroyed most Japanese film archives. Miraculously, a battered 16mm print surfaced. TFF partnered with The National Film Center of Japan to reconstruct the film, frame by frame. While the damage could not be fully erased, the restoration saved Kurosawa’s earliest vision from complete oblivion.
How to Watch Them
The most beautiful aspect of The Film Foundation’s work is accessibility. While many of these restorations premiere at the Cannes or Telluride film festivals, they eventually reach the public.
The Criterion Collection is the primary home for these restorations. Over 300 films restored by The Film Foundation are available on physical disc and their streaming channel, The Criterion Channel. Notable box sets include Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project (Volumes 1, 2, and 3), which collect exactly these rarities.
Furthermore, The Film Foundation’s "Story of Movies" educational program has taken these restored prints into middle schools, teaching children how to read visual language using To Kill a Mockingbird and Rio Bravo.