The Association of Moving Image Archivists will present a Film Projection Workshop in partnership with the Alamo Drafthouse to offer training for managers, curators and projectionists presenting 35mm film in theaters. The workshop will be held October 28 in Austin at the Alamo South Lamar location.
As digital technology has presented new opportunities to filmmakers and exhibitors, it has also impacted the availability of prints for theatres showing 35mm film. Fewer prints are available, and many of those come from archives and similar institutions that cannot replace these valuable assets should they become damaged. This makes the handling and projection of film prints critical, and the need for training vital.
“While digital has become the primary exhibition format, many theaters continue to show 35mm film prints. A number of films are simply not available in digital and showing them in their original 35mm format allows new audiences to appreciate rare prints, archive films, and titles from private collections," said AMIA board member Elena Rossi-Snook. “But it also requires special skills to work with rare and archival prints.”
The workshop will offer a hands-on tutorial for projectionists and theater staff working with 35mm film prints and will focus on film preparation and projection as well as special stipulations for archival projection, coordinating with lending institutions, and paperwork. Class size will be limited to 20 participants.
“I love digital projection for new release films, but only a tiny sliver of our vast film history will ever make it to the DCP format,” said Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League. “As an industry, we must continue to preserve, protect and carefully screen 35mm films and maintain our 35mm projection equipment. The day we stop is the day cinema as we know it is dead.”
Participants will receive industry-wide recognition for completion of the workshop, indicated by a certificate from AMIA. Participants may find more information and register at www.projectionworkshop.org. Registration is open now.
AMIA www.AMIAnet.org
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema www.drafthouse.com.