UCLA Festival Of Preservation Returns May 29-31

The biennial event showcases the UCLA Film & Television Archive's latest preservation and restoration work.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:59am

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A minimalist, abstract illustration featuring bold, jagged shapes and silhouettes in high-contrast colors, conceptually representing the diverse range of film and television works being showcased at the UCLA Festival of Preservation.The UCLA Festival of Preservation returns to celebrate the preservation and restoration of the region's rich cinematic history.Los Angeles Today

The UCLA Film & Television Archive will present the 22nd edition of its biennial UCLA Festival of Preservation, from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of film and television, ranging from silent-era gems to mid-century television rarities to 1990s independent productions, with audiences having the opportunity to hear from film preservationists and special guests.

Why it matters

The UCLA Festival of Preservation is a highly anticipated event that celebrates the important work of film preservation and restoration, allowing audiences to experience rare and historically significant cinematic works as they were meant to be seen. The festival highlights the UCLA Film & Television Archive's role in safeguarding and reviving the rich audiovisual heritage of Los Angeles and California.

The details

The festival will showcase 45 titles, including 11 feature films, 4 television programs, and 30 short works, with world and regional restoration premieres. Highlights include the new restoration of Ossie Davis' 'Black Girl' (1972), the swashbuckling 'Adventures of Casanova' (1948), the screwball comedy 'Merrily We Live' (1938), and the noir-tinged 'Si muero antes de despertar' (1952) from Argentina. The festival will also feature preserved episodes of pioneering director Lela Swift's television dramas, as well as the groundbreaking local documentary 'The Unwanted' (1975).

  • The UCLA Festival of Preservation will take place from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, 2026.
  • The festival will open on Friday, May 29, 2026.

The players

UCLA Film & Television Archive

A division of UCLA Library that is responsible for preserving and restoring the university's extensive collection of film and television materials.

May Hong HaDuong

The director of the UCLA Film & Television Archive, who oversees the biennial festival.

Ossie Davis

The director of the film 'Black Girl,' which will be featured in the festival's opening night program.

J.E. Franklin

The writer of the play that 'Black Girl' is adapted from, who will be a special guest speaker.

Lela Swift

The pioneering television director whose work will be featured in the festival's Sunday program.

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What they’re saying

“The UCLA Film & Television Archive's 22nd biennial UCLA Festival of Preservation is a place to witness, critique and celebrate works brought back to life as they were meant to be seen.”

— May Hong HaDuong, Director of the UCLA Film & Television Archive

“It's one of the great events on the Los Angeles movie calendar [...] still as exciting and groundbreaking as ever.”

— Kenneth Turan, Former Los Angeles Times film critic

What’s next

The UCLA Festival of Preservation will take place from May 29-31, 2026, with all screenings free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

The takeaway

The UCLA Festival of Preservation is a vital event that celebrates the ongoing efforts to preserve and restore the rich cinematic heritage of Los Angeles and California, providing audiences with rare opportunities to experience these important works as they were intended.