One of the things that drew me to the position of Director at the UCLA Film and Television Archive was its stellar reputation for film and television preservation. After a year on the job, I am even more honored to be here.
The Archive continues to amass a vast repository of motion pictures, television and newsreel footage documenting the 20th century. But it has never been enough to build the collection. It is equally our mandate to preserve these riches and to make them available to audiences–present and future. This is the inspiration behind the biennial Festival of Preservation.
The Tenth Festival of Preservation represents a new direction for the Archive. Thanks to a significant gift from the Ahmanson Foundation, we have preserved some of the century’s most influential independent films, as well as newsreels from the Hearst Metrotone News Collection. The Festival is also a celebration of Hollywood classics, and there is something for every taste. Offerings range from big-budget spectaculars to smaller, lesser-known titles just waiting to be discovered.
Grants and donations from government agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals fund all of the Archive’s preservation projects, as well as its public programs. We are tremendously appreciative of this generosity, which allows us to bring these wonderful films to you.
Timothy Kittleson
Director, UCLA Film and Television Archive