The Film Foundation
Safeguarding the art of cinema
The Film Foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, carrying forward the great works of the past for audiences around the world.
Preserving cinema for the next generation
Conscious of the vulnerability of physical film to time and neglect, in 1990, Rolex Testimonee Martin Scorsese established The Film Foundation to protect the medium that has shaped modern culture. In 2017, Rolex entered into partnership with the Foundation, furthering the brand’s support for the preservation of the cinematic arts.
A global mission
Martin Scorsese gathered the leading voices in cinema - Kathryn Bigelow, Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Lee, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and others - to join The Film Foundation’s cause.
Since its inception, the Foundation has partnered with film archives and studios to restore over 1,100 films. These restored works are brought back to life and shared with audiences globally through programming at film festivals, museums and educational institutions.
One of the Foundation’s major initiatives is the World Cinema Project, which celebrates the diversity of cinematic storytelling across continents and cultures. Over 70 films from 32 countries have been restored through the programme and shared globally, allowing rarely seen works from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, South America and the Middle East to reach new audiences, preserving distinct voices in global cinema.
In addition to restoration efforts, the Foundation developed The Story of Movies, a free educational curriculum designed to teach young people about the history and language of film. By introducing film literacy into classrooms, this initiative ensures that future generations understand and appreciate cinema not only as entertainment, but also as a valued art form and a cultural record.
