Amateurfilmsammlung

How to Store Your Films Properly

Small-gauge films can also be stored well at home. It is important to maintain the appropriate temperature, humidity and environment. To preserve your films as long as possible, you should keep a few basic points in mind about storage.

• Store your film rolls in a container so the film itself remains dust and dirt-free. Film cans should not be air-tight since film must be able to "breathe."
• Avoid fluctuating temperatures. A consistent, cool room temperature is ideal. This is why films should not be stored in attics.
• Do not store films in basements or garages. High levels of humidity promote the growth of mold.
• Do not store films in direct sunlight.
• For films with magnetic soundtracks: keep them away from magnets, including from speakers.
• Regularly check your films for smell, color fading and shrinkage. Recognizing damage early can help save your originals in time.
• Keep the original even when a digital copy is made.

If you are interested in a safe and long-lasting solution, the Austrian Film Museum offers the possibility of professional long-term archiving. At the Filmmuseum LAB, our collection storage site, deposited films are conserved under controlled conditions with stable temperature and humidity.

We are happy to answer any specific technical questions about film storage.

Contact:

Stefanie Zingl

+43 1 533 70 54 Ext 214