This is Film! #2 Large Film Formats

Each session will cover a different topic and feature an introductory lecture by Giovanna Fossati (Chief Curator at EYE and Professor of Film Heritage at the UvA), followed by an extended Q&A with an invited (inter)national expert on the theme and a film screening.

The second session of the series will address the recent popularity of large film formats. Fossati will discuss this revival with René Wolf, Head of Acquisitions and Programmer at EYE. Wolf will present one of his latest acquisitions: a new restoration of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) on 70mm.

Lawrence of Arabia has a long restoration history. In 1988, Robert A. Harris and Jim Painten conducted an extensive reconstruction and restoration of the film with the help of director David Lean and editor Anne Coates to create the Director's Cut. The photochemical restoration was made using a dupe negative, as the original 65mm negative was in terrible condition.

The restoration of Lawrence of Arabia that will be shown and discussed in this session was initiated in 2009 by Sony Pictures Entertainment at FotoKem Lab under the guidance of Grover Crisp, Executive Vice President of Asset Management, Film Restoration & Digital Mastering (Sony Pictures). It was a long process that took three years (2009-2012) to complete, during which an 8K digital scan was made from the original 65mm negative. The rise in interest in 70mm presentation created ideal conditions for the eventual transfer of the 8K restoration back to 70mm. Only five 70mm copies were made, and EYE is one of five institutions worldwide to possess a print.

Lawrence of Arabia is widely considered Lean”s cinematic masterpiece. It follows the story of British archaeologist and military officer L.E. Lawrence (Peter O”Toole), who travels to the Arab Peninsula to act as a liaison during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I.

The session will include a demonstration of the film in different formats (35mm, 70mm and DCP).