Eastman House celebrates International Home Movie Day Aug. 11

Bring-your-own film event taking place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; event is free and open to the public

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — You are invited to celebrate home movies at George Eastman House, during the fifth annual International Home Movie Day Saturday, Aug. 11. International Home Movie Day takes place simultaneously in cities across the country and the world, dedicated to the viewing and preservation of home movies shot on film. At George Eastman House, International Home Movie Day is being celebrated with afternoon screenings of submitted home movies from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre, complete with popcorn. Simply bring your 16 mm, 8mm, or Super 8 home movies with you to the event.

You may drop off your films beginning at 10 a.m., with films inspected on-site through 3 p.m. (all films will undergo inspection to determine if they are in good physical condition for projection). Participants will be encouraged to provide commentary about their films with the audience. Your home movies might be a lot more interesting than you remember! "We encourage those attending to participate as much they'd like on Home Movie Day by narrating their home movies, bringing a favorite song to accompany a movie, or asking questions following a screening," said Pat Doyen of the George Eastman House Motion Picture Department, who is this year's event organizer.

Though video and digital recording now dominate the home-movie market, it is argued that these formats do not have the same quality as the old films you may have in your closet, attic, or basement. Home Movie Day events provide an opportunity for individuals and families to learn more about their own family movies, how to care for films, and how home movies have helped capture 20th century history. International Home Movie Day is coordinated under the auspices of the Center for Home Movies and grew out of the concerns held by film archivists for the fate of all the home movies shot on film during the 20th century. More than 50 cities take part in International Home Movie Day, in the United States, Canada, Italy, England, and Japan.

Here's what Martin Scorsese has to say about International Home Movie Day:

"Saving our film heritage should not be limited only to commercially produced films. Home Movie Day is a celebration of these films and the people who shot them. This is a truly special way of celebrating this often over-looked area of our film history, and I congratulate George Eastman House for supporting this important initiative."

Admission and participation is free but donations will be accepted. For more information please call (585) 271-3361 ext. 240; email event organizer Pat Doyen at pdoyen@geh.org; or visit www.eastmanhouse.org or www.homemovie.com. For sale at the event will be the DVD "Living Room Cinema: Films from Home Movie Day, Volume 1" (120 min./$25, includes shipping) which features George Eastman's Kodacolor Party of 1928 — the event where he dramatically introduced color home movies to the world — narrated by Eastman House's Ed Stratmann, associate curator of motion pictures.

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