The Film Foundation

“Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. They take us to other places. They open doors and minds. Movies are the memories of our lifetime. We need to keep them alive.”

This is how Martin Scorsese introduces us to The Film Foundation, his nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving motion pictures. The Foundation has so far been instrumental in raising awareness of the urgent need for film preservation and has helped save over 560 motion pictures. Martin Scorsese is a living film encyclopedia, films are his life, and as the huge movie lover that I am I can not express my admiration and appreciation for his efforts highly enough. Watch this clip to see for yourself the difference before and after the restoration of a film.

In addition, the foundation also creates innovative educational programs for middle schools, such as The Story of Movies (watch the clip and learn more about it), the first ever partnership of filmmakers and educators to create an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to teach students about the cultural, artistic and historical significance of film. I think this educational program should be introduced in schools all over the world, thus exposing classic cinema to new audiences and developing an appreciation and understanding for artistic authorship beyond the film community. And maybe then you would think twice before downloading a pirated film from the Internet, and buy it instead (or at least rent it). It’s usually cheaper than two coffees at Starbucks and you would make a difference. And maybe there would be more people who would start going to the cinema again to see a good film.

Just to see how closely related fashion and film really are, Gucci supports The Film Foundation’s efforts to save the treasures of the first hundred years of cinema. Starting with 2006, Gucci has been committed to funding the restoration of one movie every year, including Luchino Visconti’s Il Gattopardo (1963), Federico Fellinini’s La Dolce Vita (1960), Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time in America (1984) (watch video), Michelangelo Antonioni’s Le Amiche (1955).

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photos: La Dolce Vita: © Cineteca di Bologna / Reporters Associati  / Il Gattopardo: Twentieth Century Fox and Pathé / Once Upon A Time in America: ©1983 Embassy International Pictures ©2003 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. (United States) ©2003 Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. (Canada and rest of world) from the Angelo Novi Collection/Cineteca di Bologna/ Le Amiche: Titanus, Rai Cinema, and Cineteca di Bologna, images via Gucci
video: copyright of The Film Foundation