Film is Fabulous! and De Montfort University’s Cinema and Television History Institute (CATHI) have worked tirelessly in recent months to preserve vulnerable film collections held privately in the U.K. During this time, missing and rare items have been found (a number of which have been made public).

John Franklin, of Film is Fabulous!, said:

‘The various items announced prior to Sunday’s event were ‘fast-tracked’ with the help of many people and organisations. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. For example, Claire Coss, Head of Library & Curatorial Services at the BBC, generously allowed four of the BBC film prints we found to be examined and digitally scanned. Our being able to demonstrably prove their existence is a key part of the process.’ 

Prior to the event on Sunday, 29th October 2023, several ‘finds’ were pre-announced. A lost silent movie from October 1919, by Selznick Pictures, heads the list. The extraordinary tinted print, which is on 35mm nitrate film stock, is entitled: Sealed Hearts. It will be returned to the Library of Congress in America for restoration and on-going preservation.

Among the vintage television items pre-announced were BBC TV episodes of Sykes (1961), Hugh and I (1964), and Mogul (1966), plus an ATV (and ITC Entertainment) episode of Tom Jones! (1967). On the day of the event, a missing Basil Brush Show (1970), which was found in the collection of a recently deceased film collector, was also announced.

John Franklin added:

‘Our aim is to preserve all vulnerable film held privately with collectors in the U.K. An inevitable consequence of our discussions with fellow film collectors is the discovery of rare items. We have found other lost prints, which we will announce once we have worked through the process of identification and capture through digital scanning.’

Film is Fabulous! intend to announce lost British feature films from the 1930s and 40s, children’s television programmes from the 1960s, and all manner of film off-cuts, mute negatives and trims. These include a missing television episode that was returned by a private film collector at the event in Leicester on Sunday. The print, together with the other missing material, can now be preserved and stand as a legacy to the collectors who have cherished the films for many years. 

Film is Fabulous! Preserving film treasures for future generations.

1st November 2023