Don’t throw your films away; bring them to Home Movie Day!

“Saving our film heritage should not be limited only to commercially produced films. Home movies do not just capture the important private moments of our family’s lives, but they are historical and cultural documents as well. Home Movie Day is a celebration of these films and the people who shot them. I urge anyone with an interest in learning more about how to care for and preserve their own personal memories to join in the festivities being offered in their community…”— Martin Scorsese

This year sees the 20th anniversary of Home Movie Day and we’ll be celebrating in true archive film style! This event is free, open to the public, and promises a day filled with nostalgia, education, and camaraderie.

Film archivists will take time out of the vaults to help the public enjoy and save their home movies. Home Movie Day shows how home movies on 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm and 16mm offer a unique view of past life in London and of family history.

There will be free screenings from London’s Screen Archives at 2pm followed by “How to make a home movie” presented by Amanda Huntley from treasures of the Huntley Film Archives.

Organiser Louise Pankhurst, is particularly thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the UK premiere of 9 ½, a unique film created as part of the centenary of 9.5mm film format. The association INEDITS Amateur Films / Memory of Europe presents a montage film spanning 100 years, 6 continents, 22 film archives and collections of this, the first film format designed for home-made cinema.

Screenings of this film will be available throughout the day starting at 11.00.

We will also be joined by From The Silver Screen, unique jewellery created from the silver harvested during film processing at Cinelab Film & Digital.

For anyone wanting their films to be digitised, we have special rates offered by R3Store Studios and London’s Screen Archives will be on hand to offer advise about donating films for posterity.

It’s a family- friendly event, and everyone is welcome to attend. But remember, you don’t need to bring a film to participate fully in the day’s activities!

Join us on October 21, 2023, from 10.30 to 16.00 for an unforgettable experience. Entry is absolutely free, and to make the day even sweeter, tea and cake will be available for all attendees.