The Fourth Annual International Home Movie Day
Austin’s first Home Movie Day puts the spotlight on amateur works, film preservation

On Saturday, August 12th, 2006, local film enthusiasts will help the public learn about, enjoy and rescue films so often forgotten about. Home Movie Day shows how home- made films offer a unique “you are here” view of decades past, often in gorgeous living color, and are an important part of personal, community and cultural history.

“Saving our film heritage should not be limited only to commercially produced films,” says legendary director and film preservation advocate Martin Scorsese. Filmmaker John Waters echoes that sentiment saying, “There’s no such thing as a bad home movie…Home Movie Day is an orgy of self-discovery, a chance for family memories to suddenly become show business. If you’ve got one, whip it out and show it now.”

Austin’s very first Home Movie Day is free and open to public and will be held at the Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Avenue, on Saturday, August 12 from 1-3pm. Austin Home Movie Day volunteers will be on hand to assess the condition of older films, provide information about how to care for family films and videos, and—best of all—there will be continuous screenings of home movies brought by participants! Damaged films cannot be screened, but participants whose films are at risk can learn more about how to rescue those precious images before it’s too late. No films? Come and watch the show!

Accepted film formats are 8, Super 8 and 16mm. Participants are encouraged to introduce and narrate their movies.

Home Movie Day is an internationally organized event that began in 2003, when a small group of film archivists decided to go beyond traditional preservation methods to try and save the countless reels of home movies shot on film during the 20th century. The first Home Movie Day on August 16, 2003 was an unexpected success, with over twenty cities in four countries participating. In each following year, Home Movie Day grew bigger still, with as many as four dozen venues taking part from Australia to Arkansas.

Don’t throw your films away—take them to Home Movie Day!

For more info on Home Movie Day’s local venues worldwide see www.homemovieday.com or contact Anne Shelton at austinhomemovieday@gmail.com or call 512-799-3630.

Sponsored by: Texas Archive of the Moving Image and VidiPax, LLC

In partnership with: The Austin History Center, Austin Public Library; The Barker Center for American History, University of Texas; The Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas; and The Center For Home Movies.