From 65mm to 8mm: Cinelab Supports the Resurgence of Shooting on Film

A new generation of filmmakers are embracing the celluloid aesthetic and adopting shooting on film. Following the proliferation and over-saturation of digital imagery, the analogue renaissance has seen filmmakers, photographers, and audiences fall in love again with the look of film. Shooting on film, embracing traditional film processing techniques and marrying them with the latest high-end film scanning technology. 

In 2014, thanks to the commitment of a group of directors including Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Judd Apatow, and J.J. Abrams, Kodak came back from the edge and struck a deal with Hollywood studios to keep 35mm film alive. 

Less than a decade later, 2023 has already seen 40 films shot on film go into production - with another two dozen currently in post production and expected to hit our screens soon. The Cannes Film Festival selection this year featured 30 films shot on film (21% of total), including the favourites such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flowers Moon’ and Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’. 

The film renaissance spread from features to episodic longform some time ago. Cinelab have worked on all four seasons of the critically acclaimed drama series, ‘Succession’, which was shot entirely on 35mm film. It’s not just 35mm that has enjoyed a resurgence though, Cinelab are supporting an increasing number of 16mm and super 16mm film productions. With recent television series shot on super 16mm, such as the BBC’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s ‘Conversation with Friends’ and Norwegian political satire ‘Power Play’ – that won best series at Canneseries International this year. 

There has also been a continued uplift in 16mm and 35mm use across commercials and music videos - with a new generation of short form directors embracing film. This wave of rising stars are keeping the medium alive and thriving, shooting high quality content for big name brands. 

Cinelab CEO Adrian Bull comments: “In recent years, with have seen film’s revival spread from longform to short form and across all formats of film. From 35mm, to 65mm and IMAX, on to 16mm and now, increasingly super 8mm’s comeback is gathering pace.”

Burberry’s recent Summer 23 campaign was shot on Super 8mm. Directed by Tyrone Lebon through Do Be Do Represents agency, ‘A Burberry Summer’ was then processed and scanned by Cinelab and delivered 4K.