National Film Preservation Act

National Film Preservation Act. The National Film Preservation Act is a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by Ronald Reagan in 1988, with the goal of preserving American film heritage, including works by renowned directors such as Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, and Martin Scorsese. This act was influenced by the efforts of film preservationists, including Archivist of the United States Robert M. Warner and Library of Congress James H. Billington, who worked closely with organizations like the National Film Registry and the International Federation of Film Archives. The act has been instrumental in the preservation of films, such as Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, which are now part of the National Film Registry.

Introduction

The National Film Preservation Act was introduced to address the issue of film preservation, which was a concern for many in the film industry, including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. The act aimed to preserve films that were deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, such as The Godfather, Jaws, and Star Wars. This was achieved through the collaboration of organizations like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and the American Film Institute. The act also recognized the importance of film archives, such as the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art, in preserving film heritage, including the works of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd.

History

The National Film Preservation Act has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s, when film preservation became a concern for many in the film industry, including Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, and Ingmar Bergman. The National Film Registry was established in 1988, with the goal of preserving films that were deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, such as The Birth of a Nation, The Gold Rush, and Tokyo Story. The act was influenced by the efforts of film preservationists, including Willard Van Dyke, Irving Lerner, and Robert Rosen, who worked closely with organizations like the Society for Cinema and Media Studies and the Association of Moving Image Archivists. The act has been amended several times, including in 1992, 1996, and 2005, with the support of United States Senate Ted Kennedy and United States House of Representatives Barney Frank.

Provisions

The National Film Preservation Act provides for the preservation of films that are deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, such as The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather: Part II, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The act establishes the National Film Preservation Board, which is responsible for selecting films for preservation, including the works of Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Luc Godard, and François Truffaut. The board is composed of representatives from organizations like the Library of Congress, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the American Film Institute, as well as film experts like Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael, and Andrew Sarris. The act also provides funding for film preservation, including the restoration of films like The Red Shoes, The 400 Blows, and Breathless.

Impact

The National Film Preservation Act has had a significant impact on film preservation, with many films being preserved and restored, including The African Queen, Rear Window, and North by Northwest. The act has also raised awareness about the importance of film preservation, with many organizations and individuals working to preserve film heritage, including Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation and Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation. The act has been recognized internationally, with many countries establishing their own film preservation programs, such as the British Film Institute and the Cinémathèque française. The act has also been influential in the development of film archives, such as the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Film Preservation Board

The National Film Preservation Board is responsible for selecting films for preservation, including the works of D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille, and Ernst Lubitsch. The board is composed of representatives from organizations like the Library of Congress, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the American Film Institute, as well as film experts like Leonard Maltin, Richard Schickel, and Todd McCarthy. The board meets annually to select films for preservation, including films like The Philadelphia Story, His Girl Friday, and The Lady Eve. The board also provides funding for film preservation, including the restoration of films like The Thief of Bagdad, The 39 Steps, and The Lady Vanishes.

Legislation

The National Film Preservation Act is a federal law that was passed by the United States Congress and signed by Ronald Reagan in 1988. The act is administered by the Library of Congress, which is responsible for implementing the provisions of the act, including the selection of films for preservation and the provision of funding for film preservation. The act has been amended several times, including in 1992, 1996, and 2005, with the support of United States Senate Ted Kennedy and United States House of Representatives Barney Frank. The act is an important piece of legislation that has helped to preserve film heritage, including the works of John Ford, William Wyler, and Billy Wilder, and has raised awareness about the importance of film preservation, with many organizations and individuals working to preserve film heritage, including The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of the Moving Image. Category:Film preservation