Films Restored By The Film Foundation [portable] Jun 2026

Established in 1990 by director Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation

Orson Welles considered this his best film, yet the available prints were dark, murky, and missing the chiaroscuro angles Welles intended. Working with the Cineteca Nazionale (Italy) and StudioCanal, TFF restored the jagged, expressionistic black-and-white photography. They also fixed the audio mix, which had been muddled for decades. Why it matters: Welles famously shot this in Europe with limited resources. The restoration reveals the raw, anguished energy of the black-and-white cinematography, fundamentally changing critical reception of the film. films restored by the film foundation

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. Established in 1990 by director Martin Scorsese, The

Film restoration is often described as "removing a cataract" from a movie, allowing its original clarity, color, and sound to shine through once again. The work is urgent because: Why it matters: Welles famously shot this in

The Film Foundation, founded by Martin Scorsese in 1990, has restored over 1,000 films to protect cinema history from physical decay. This "story" of restoration is a race against time, where damaged celluloid is transformed into pristine digital masters.