Film to Wrap the World

Half a million reels. Enough film to wrap around the world four and a half times. Tucked away in the hills outside LA sits one of the largest collections of moving images in the country—and most of it has never made it to YouTube.

In our latest FACEism episode, we go inside the UCLA Film & Television Archive, where director May Hong HaDuong safeguards priceless moments of film history. Some of the most delicate are the nitrate reels shot before 1950, so volatile they're stored in individual vaults at 38 degrees, each with its own fire suppression system. The $220 million facility, built by David Packard and the Packard Humanities Institute, spans 65 acres dedicated to preserving cinema's past.

Among the treasures: rare newsreel of Amelia Earhart discussing repairs to her plane just ten days before her final flight, and "& Beautiful," a groundbreaking 1969 program celebrating Black life.

This weekend, you can see some of it for yourself. The 22nd UCLA Festival of Preservation runs Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31 at the Billy Wilder Theater. Admission is free. 🎞️

Historic Film Footage Courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Packard Humanities Institute