Did you know at least 50 percent of all films made for public exhibition before 1951 have been lost? I, for one, was shocked to see that estimate reported by Marilyn Ferdinand on her excellent website, Ferdy on Films. Marilyn points out that in the silent era, the loss is estimated at 85-90 percent. Because all nondigital movies are recorded on nitrate film, they deteriorate easily, and “thousands of films have burned up, broken down, or ended up in a dumpster.”

Marilyn loves movies as well as a good cause, so she and Farran Nehmes (The Self-Styled Siren) decided to help ensure that not another frame is lost. They are holding a special blogathon from February 14 – 21 to spotlight film preservation and raise funds for the National Film Preservation Foundation. What a wonderful way to support the work of film preservationists, restorers and archivists!

I encourage all movie fans to join this worthy cause. For more information about the Film Preservation Blogathon, please go to this Facebook page. 

According to Marilyn, the National Film Preservation Foundation has made available 4 DVD box sets for winners of a random drawing of donors.

If you wish to make a donation to this worthy cause, please click here.

(Marilyn Ferdinand is a member of OFCS – the Online Film Critics Society. Find out more about her at Ferdy on Films.)