Since 1935 MoMA has carefully acquired films for its Film Collection, which now counts more than 30,000 films and 1.5 million film stills from all periods and genres. Among the holdings are original negatives of the Biograph and Edison companies, and the world’s largest collection of D. W. Griffith films.
The Celeste Bartos Film Preservation Center was set up in 1996 with the aim of providing a ever evolving state of the art technology facility to assist the restoration and preservation of unique and rare films that are part of their archival film collection. The original films have been consistently transferred to new supports in keeping with the advancements of technology, but the originals continue to be carefully kept in controlled conditions (specific temperatures and humidity) so as to assure for the future the ability to still resort to the originals and to create new copies in formats/supports yet to come.
Thanks to MoMA’s archival film collection you can now enjoy and even license some incredible films! Click here to consult the titles which have been digitized and are available to license. PLEASE NOTE: each use must be requested through Scala and must obtain final approval by MoMA. If interested in licensing a specific movie, exact segments of the various film can be prepared and sent solely for review purposes. Please note that licenses for the use of entire films will not be granted.
Hope you enjoy these few examples from the fantastic films that comprise this part of the MoMA Film collection. Contact us with questions or comments.
Main image at top of page: D.W. Griffith Film Director on set