The World Cinema Project (WCP) preserves and restores neglected films from around the world. To date, 65 films from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, South America, and the Middle East have been restored, preserved and exhibited for a global audience. The WCP also supports educational programs, including Restoration Film Schools; intensive, results-oriented workshops allowing students and professionals worldwide to learn the art and science of film restoration and preservation. All WCP titles are available for exhibition rental by clicking "Book This Film."
MUNA MOTO
Director: Dikongué-Pipa
WRITTEN BY: Dikongué-Pipa
EDITING: Andrée Davanture, Dominique Saint-Cyr, Jules Takam
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Jean-Pierre Dezalay, Jean-Luc Léon
STARRING: David Endéné, Arlette Din Bell, Philippe Abia, Gisèle Dikongué-Pipa, Jeanne Mvondo
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Cameroon
LANGUAGE: French with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes
Restored in 2019 by Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata and The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and UNESCO – in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna – to help locate, restore, and disseminate African cinema.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The 4K restoration of Muna Moto was made from the 35mm original camera and sound negatives and a second generation dupe negative.
Despite wet-gate scanning to minimize mold damage, some sections of the camera negative had to be replaced by scanning the dupe negative.
Following director Dikongue-Pipa’s suggestion, the dupe negative was also used for the opening and closing cards which differed from the original negative. A vintage 35mm print was used as a reference for picture grading. Special thanks to Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique.
TOUKI BOUKI
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty
WRITTEN BY: Djibril Diop Mambéty
EDITING: Siro Asteni
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Pap Samba Sow, Georges Bracher
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Joséphine Baker, Mado Robin, Aminata Fall
SOUND: El Hadji Mbow
FROM: GTC Paris
STARRING: Magaye Niang (Mory), Mareme Niang (Anta), Aminata Fall (Tante Oumy), Ousseynou Diop (Charlie)
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Senegal
LANGUAGE: Wolof with French and English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 88 minutes
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Cinegrit
Restored in 2008 by Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and the family of Djibril Diop Mambéty. Restoration funded by Armani, Cartier, Qatar Airways and Qatar Museum Authority.
Touki Bouki is a prophetic film. Its portrayal of 1973 Senegalese society is not too different from today’s reality. Hundreds of young Africans die every day at the Strait of Gibraltar trying to reach Europe (Melilla and Ceuta). Who has never heard of that before? All their hardships find their voice in Djibril’s film: the young nomads who think they can cross the desert ocean and find their own lucky star and happiness but are disappointed by the human cruelty they encounter. Touki Bouki is a beautiful, upsetting and unexpected film that makes us question ourselves. What a pleasure and what an achievement for Martin Scorsese’s Foundation to give Djibril Diop Mambéty a second life. To all those who support cinema: bravo! –Souleymane Cissé, May 2008
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
Touki Bouki has been digitally restored at 2K resolution using the original 35 mm camera and sound negatives provided by the director’s son Teemour Diop Mambéty and preserved at the GTC in Paris. Digital restoration brought the film’s original chromatic elements to light. At the end of the digital process a new 35 mm internegative was produced.
Image: © Courtesy of Teemour Diop Mambéty
CONTRAS' CITY
CITY OF CONTRASTS
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty
WRITTEN BY: Djibril Diop Mambéty
EDITING: Jean-Bernard Bonis, Marino Rio
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Georges Bracher
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Senegal
LANGUAGE: Wolof with English Subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 22 minutes
Restored in 2020 by Cineteca di Bologna/L'Immagine Ritrovata and The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project in association with The Criterion Collection. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and UNESCO – in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna – to help locate, restore, and disseminate African cinema.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The 4K restoration of CONTRAS' CITY was made from the internegative as well as the original sound negatove provided by Teemour Mambéty and preserved at LTC Patrimoine. A vintage print of the film was used as reference for color grading.
BADOU BOY
Director: Djibril Diop Mambéty
WRITTEN BY: Djibril Diop Mambéty
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Baidy Sow
STARRING: Laminé Ba, Al Demba Ciss, Christoph Colomb, Aziz Diop Mambéty
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Senegal
LANGUAGE: French and Wolof with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 56 miniutes
Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata and L’Image Retrouvée laboratories in association with Teemour Diop Mambéty. Restoration funded by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and UNESCO—in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna—to help locate, restore, and disseminate African cinema.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
BADOU BOY was restored in 4K using the internegative and the sound negative. Color grading was supervised by Pierre-Alain Meier.
Restoration work was carried out in 2021 at L'Immagine Ritrovata and L'Image Retrouvée laboratories.
With special thanks to Teemour Diop Mambéty.
BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY, A
GU LING JIE SHAO NIAN SHA REN SHI JIAN
Director: Edward Yang
WRITTEN BY: Edward Yang, Yan Hangya, Yang Shunqing, Lai Mingtang
EDITING: Chen Bowen
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Zhang Huigong, Li Longyu
FROM: Central Motion Picture Corporation, Taipei
STARRING: Zhang Zhen (Xiao Si’r), Lisa Yang (Ming), Zhang Guozhu (Zhang Ju), Elaine Jin (Mrs Zhang), Wang Juan (Elder Sister), Ke Yulun (Airplane), Tan Zhigang (Ma)
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Taiwan
LANGUAGE: Mandarin and Taiwanese with French and English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 237 minutes
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Yang and His Gang Filmmakers
SET DESIGNER: Yu Weiyan, Edward Yang
Restored in 2009 by Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Central Motion Picture Corporation, and the Edward Yang Estate. Scan performed at Digimax laboratories in Taipei. Restoration funded by Armani, Cartier, Qatar Airways and Qatar Museum Authority.
It is easy to restore a film’s image, but much harder to revive that feeling of seeing a classic for the first time. Fifteen years ago, Edward Yang’s A Brighter Summer Day was released, heralding a new talent in world cinema. Each year since has further confirmed its status as a classic, but at the cost of increased wear and tear on the prints. Restoration is usually reserved for relics from decades ago. But sometimes we need to dust off recent memories to remind us how brightly the not too distant past shined. Thanks to the latest digital technology, we can seize these celluloid moments even as they begin to slip irrevocably from our grasp. In June of 2007 when he was only 59 years old, we lost Edward Yang forever. I’m very happy that A Brighter Summer Day has been restored so a new generation of filmgoers can feel the excitement of seeing it for the first time. –Wong Kar-Wai, May 2009
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The restoration of the uncut version of A Brighter Summer Day used the original 35mm camera and sound negatives provided by the Edward Yang Estate and preserved at the Central Motion Pictures Corporation in Taipei. Due to the deterioration of the original camera negative an intermediate of the film printed at the time was also used. The digital restoration produced a new 35mm internegative.
Image: © Courtesy of Edward Yang Estate/CMPC
TAIPEI STORY
QING MEI ZHU MA
Director: Edward Yang
WRITTEN BY: Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Chu T’ien-wen
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Yang Wei-han
PRODUCER: Hou Hsiao- hsien, Lin Rong-feng
STARRING: Hou Hsiao-hsien (Lung), Tsai Chin (Chin), Lai Teh-nan (Chin's father), Chen Su-fang (Mrs. Mei), Wu Nien-Jen (Taxi driver), Ko I-Chen (Architect), Ko Su-wun (Gwan)
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Taiwan
LANGUAGE: Madarin with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 119 minutes
PRODUCER: Hou Hsiao- hsien, Lin Rong-feng
Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at Cineteca di Bologna/L’immagine Ritrovata laboratory in association with the Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique and Hou Hsiao-hsien.
ENAMORADA
Director: Emilio Fernández
WRITTEN BY: Iñigo de Martino, Emilio Fernández
EDITING: Gloria Schoemann
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Gabriel Figueroa
PRODUCER: Benito Alazraki Franco
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Eduardo Hernández Moncada
SOUND: José B. Carles
ART DIRECTOR: Manuel Parra
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Manuel Fontanals
STARRING: María Félix, Pedro Armendáriz, Fernando Fernández
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Mexico
LANGUAGE: Spanish with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 99 minutes
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Panamerican Films, S.A.
SET DESIGNER: Manuel Parra
PRODUCER: Benito Alazraki Franco
Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project in collaboration with Fundacion Televisa AC and Filmoteca de la UNAM. Restoration funded by the Material World Charitable Foundation.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The 4K restoration of ENAMORADA utilized the original 35mm nitrate picture and track negatives stored by Televisa at Filmoteca de la UNAM in Mexico City. A 35mm nitrate print, provided by Filmoteca de la UNAM, was also used as a secondary element. 4K scanning and restoration was completed by Roundabout Entertainment and the audio restoration was completed by Audio Mechanics.
MARÍA CANDELARIA
Director: Emilio Fernández
WRITTEN BY: Emilio Fernández, Mauricio Magdaleno
EDITING: Jorge Bustos, Gloria Schoemann
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Gabriel Figueroa
PRODUCER: Agustín J. Fink
STARRING: Dolores Del Río, Pedro Armendáriz, Alberto Galán, Margarita Cortés, Miguel Inclán
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Mexico
LANGUAGE: Spanish with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 102 minutes
PRODUCER: Agustín J. Fink
Restored in 2024 by the Academy Film Archive, TelevisaUnivision, Filmoteca UNAM, and The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project. Restoration funding provided by the Material World Foundation.
REVENGE
MEST
Director: Ermek Shinarbaev
WRITTEN BY: Anatoli Kim
EDITING: Polina Stein
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Sergei Kosmanev
PRODUCER: Habibur Rahman Khan
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Vladislav Shute
STARRING: Alexandre Pan (Sungu, the poet), Oleg Li (King-Monk), Valentin Te (Novice), Lubove Germanova (Elza), Rasim Jakibaev (Tsai)
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Kazakhstan
LANGUAGE: Russian with French and English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Color
RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Kazakhfilm Studios
SET DESIGNER: Elena Eliseeva
PRODUCER: Habibur Rahman Khan
Restored in 2010 by Cineteca di Bologna/L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Kazakhfilm Studio, the State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ermek Shinarbaev. Restoration funded by Armani, Cartier, Qatar Airways and Qatar Museum Authority.
In a rage, a teacher murders a boy. Another boy is bred, for one sole purpose: to avenge his brother’s death. Kazakh master Ermek Shinarbaev’s close collaboration with the Korean-Russian writer Anatoli Kim yielded three great films, the most remarkable of which is this beautiful, profoundly unsettling film. A true odyssey, geographically and psychologically. One of the greatest films to emerge from the Kazakh New Wave, and one of the toughest.
(Kent Jones, May 2010)
In the beginning of the 40s, hundreds of thousands of Koreans that had lived in the Russian Far East since the XIX century were forcibly displaced overnight according to Stalin’s orders. They were regarded as traitors and public enemies. Women, children, old people, were sent away with no explanation. The Korean diaspora, with a population of over a million, has been a forbidden topic for many years. Revenge is the first film telling the story of their tragedy.
(Ermek Shinarbaev, May 2010)
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The restoration of Revenge, used the original camera negative, the sound negative and a positive print provided by the Kazakhfilm Studio and held at the State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Special thanks to director Ermek Shinarbaev for actively participating in the restoration.
Image: © Courtesy of Kazakhfilm Studio
FANTASMA DEL CONVENTO, EL
Director: Fernando de Fuentes
WRITTEN BY: Jorge Bezet, Fernando de Fuentes, Juan Bustillo Oro
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Ross Fisher
PRODUCER: Jorge Bezet
STARRING: Enrique del Campo, Marte Roel, Carlos Villatoro, Paco Martínez, Victorio Blanco
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Mexico
LANGUAGE: Spanish with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 85 minutes
PRODUCER: Jorge Bezet
Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
Preserved from the 35mm nitrate picture and track negatives and a 16mm acetate composite dupe negative. Laboratory services by Fotokem, Roundabout Entertainment, Inc., Audio Mechanics, DJ Audio, Inc., Titrafilm Paris. Special thanks to Viviana Garcia Besne, Permanencia Voluntaria; Albino Álvarez Gómez, Filmoteca de la UNAM.
REDES
Director: Fred Zinnemann, Emilio Gómez Muriel
WRITTEN BY: Agustín Velázquez Chávez, Paul Strand
EDITING: Emilio Gómez Muriel, Gunther von Fritsch
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Paul Strand
ADAPTED BY: Emilio Gómez Muriel, Fred Zinnemann and Henwar Rodakiewicz
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Silvestre Revueltas
SOUND: Roberto, Joselito Rodriguez
FROM: Cinemateca de la UNAM, Mexico
STARRING: Silvio Hernández (Miro), David Valle González (Monopolist), Rafael Hinojosa (Politician), Antonio Lara (El Zurdo), Miguel Figueroa and native fishermen
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Mexico
LANGUAGE: Spanish with French and English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 61 minutes
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Secretaría de Educación Pública
Restored in 2009 by Cineteca di Bologna/L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Filmoteca de la UNAM. Restoration funded by Armani, Cartier, Qatar Airways and Qatar Museum Authority.
The film – the first (and last) of its kind – was expected to play a small part in the Government’s plan to educate millions of illiterate citizens throughout the enormous country and bring them out of their isolation. […] The picture was to be made for the Federal Department of Fine Arts, headed by composer Carlos Chávez. The producer would be Paul Strand. […] We had recruited practically all ‘actors’ from among the local fishermen, who needed to do no more than be themselves. They were splendid and loyal friends, and working with them was a joy. In addition to acting, they carried all the equipment, rowed the boats and did a multitude of other jobs, earning more money than ever before – forty-five cents per day, per man – and enjoying themselves hugely. […] I’m told that some years later the Nazis found the negative in Paris and burned it. A few prints still exist. –Fred Zinnemann
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The restoration of Redes used the best surviving materials, namely a 35mm safety duplicate negative and a positive print preserved at the Filmoteca de la UNAM in Mexico. The digital restoration produced a new 35mm internegative.
Image: © Courtesy of Filmoteca de la UNAM
VOYAGE AUX ANTILLES DU PRÉSIDENT SENGHOR
Director: Georges Caristan
COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Senegal
LANGUAGE: French with English subtitles
COLOR INFO: Black and White
RUNNING TIME: 17 minutes
Restored by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in collaboration with the Ministère de la Culture et du Patrimoine Historique de Sénégal – Direction du Cinéma. Restoration funded by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
This restoration is part of the African Film Heritage Project, an initiative created by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and UNESCO―in collaboration with Cineteca di Bologna―to help locate, restore, and disseminate African cinema.
NOTES ON THE RESTORATION:
The 4K restoration was completed using a 16mm print preserved by the Direction du Cinéma in Senegal. With special thanks to Tiziana Manfredi and Marco Lena.
