Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection

About the Kodak/Atlab Project


Five years - Fifty films - for all time

It has been well documented that many of Australia's early films have long been lost. However, it is not as widely known that Australia's more recent colour films are at risk and many have not appeared on the cinema screen for decades. Through generous support from Kodak and Atlab Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive is restoring a selection of these films to form the Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection.

Fifty Australian colour films have been restored over five years. This important project will ensure Australia's at-risk colour film production heritage will again be seen as its filmmakers intended. High quality prints can now be screened to a new generation of cinemagoers. Launched in 2000, the project was completed in March 2005.

Technological advances in film stock and film processing mean that these prints are of superior quality to the original release prints. The new prints are colour re-graded, soundtracks remastered to Dolby ® Digital, and scratches and flaws are removed. The result is a refined cinematic package that does justice to the original films, and satisfies contemporary cinemagoers.

The Collection spans many film genres and captures the early works of Australian filmmakers, key creatives, actors and technicians, whose names are now internationally recognised. The Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection brings the richness of Australian film to those who remember the original, and those who are seeing it for the first time. A great resource for retrospective screenings, film festivals and independent cinemas, the Collection promotes Australia's film heritage to Australian and international audiences.


'Atlab Australia has been helping both local and international filmmakers tell their stories on film for the last sixty years. As the market leader in film technology we have an obligation to ensure that all motion picture films are preserved using the highest technical standards. Together with Kodak we are pleased to be a part of the Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection, which will ensure that Australian films are safeguarded and restored to their full potential. This important contribution is vital to protect Australia's film cultural heritage now and into the future.'
Anthos Simon
NSW General Manager, Atlab Australia

'Australian audiences love Australian stories. They are part of who we are, therefore it is imperative that our cultural anthology is preserved for generations to come. Kodak is proud to provide assistance with restoring the work of filmmakers from the past and we are excited by the breadth of talent demonstrated by the next wave of filmmakers who will capture our stories for the future.'
Greg McKibbin
Regional Business General Manager and Vice President, Kodak Entertainment Imaging

Commendations

Australia's film greats commend the Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection at the National Film and Sound Archive.

There's nothing more distressing than watching a scratched and faded print of a much loved film. Many prints donated in the past to the National Film and Sound Archive were old release prints already in poor condition. The plan to create new prints of key Australian feature films with the help of KODAK and ATLAB is to be applauded. -- Peter Weir

As a pioneer in the art of film making, Australia has a responsibility to preserve the films it produces. Our history needs to be chronicled for us to take pride in our achievements and to understand the opportunities provided to each new generation of film makers.

This new initiative is a major step forward in undertaking that responsibility and I can only say ... 'Bewdy'. -- Bryan Brown

The existing colour film prints of many recent classic Australian features are in a very degraded state, scratched, faded or cut about from damage. This has happened to most of my early films.

The actions of the National Film and Sound Archive, Kodak and Atlab in making prints of 50 colour films over the next five years will ensure that recent Australian films can be appreciated by the world's filmgoers in the decades to come. -- Dr George Miller

I was genuinely thrilled to learn that the visual history of Australia over the last half of the 20th Century, as represented in the dramas of feature films of that period, is to be acquired, enhanced, catalogued and maintained by the National Film and Sound Archive for the joy, reference and education of future generations.

We must celebrate that Australia is fortunate in having a National Archive for film and sound, and organisations such as Atlab and Kodak who are prepared to instigate and support this very important venture. Congratulations to all involved. -- John Seale

I congratulate both the government and the National Film and Sound Archive on this initiative. Many of the feature films that put the industry back on its feet in the seventies have not been available in a mint condition print. I think this will give greater access and understanding of our film history not only of the seventies but those wonderful early film classics. It is a great step forward for our film culture. -- Patricia Lovell

It is hard to believe that in a country that is so internationally noted for its film output that a lot of our early, and in some cases recent, film work has been lost because we have not adequately looked after it. Clearly, it is a matter of urgency that this matter is rectified. -- Baz Luhrmann

A valuable and essential service to the Australian film culture. -- Fred Schepisi

When I teach history of world cinema as part of the Continuing Education programme I'm constantly saddened by the loss of so many films - films which no longer exist, or are unscreenable today. Some of these films were highly regarded in their time, others not. But we must remember that tastes change, and that some of the less regarded films of the past may be of much greater interest today. That's why film preservation is so vitally important, preservation of as much as possible of our cinema past. This Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection is of paramount importance in allowing future generations of Australians to see the films of an earlier time. -- David Stratton

Some parts of our cultural heritage are able to withstand the passage of time. Unfortunately color film prints can simply disappear before our eyes, fading to ghost-like images that bear no resemblance to their original form, as I discovered for myself last year when screening a print of my 1977 film "Backroads". The National Film and Sound Archive, Kodak and Atlab have all taken a significant step towards preserving Australia's vanishing past for future generations to see. -- Phillip Noyce

We need to preserve our history of filmmaking for the sake of our future as a nation with a unique film culture, and a population that embraces it. Thank you National Film and Sound Archive. You are invaluable. Nadia Tass Director -- Nadia Tass


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