Want to be transported back to your childhood (or before you were even born) to watch the original, unfaded dye transfer IB Technicolor British release print of Star Wars? Opening night of the BFI Film on Film Festival taking place at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 12th to 15th June gives you that chance as this beyond-rare print – preserved in the BFI National Archive – is given a rare airing. No A New Hope, no Episode IV, this is as 27th December 1977 as it gets.
Opening night – Star Wars
An unmissable treat for Star Wars fans. A long time ago, George Lucas’s original space fantasy set in a galaxy far, far away was released in 1977, captivating countless imaginations for generations to come and forever shifting popular culture. Film on Film presents Star Wars exactly as experienced by audiences on its original release, screening from one of the precious handful of dye transfer IB Technicolor prints produced for the first British release, preserved in the BFI National Archive.On display to coincide with the opening night screening there is also a rare opportunity to view material from the original continuity script for Star Wars, which includes rare on-set Polaroids, annotations and deleted scenes. The script is from the collection of Ann Skinner, script editor on the original film, and is now cared for by the BFI National Archive.
General sale is on 9th May and fingers crossed we’ll see you there, but bring the tissues – this will be emotional.
