A galaxy that once felt far away is now a bit closer: George Lucas’ original 1977 version of “Star Wars” is being shown to the public for the first time in many years, thanks to the BFI Film on Film Festival.
The festival will open on June 12, 2025, with “Star Wars” shown in a dye transfer IB Technicolor print that was originally made for the first release in the UK. This version is kept safe in the BFI National Archive.
Since 1997, only the Special Edition version — which added CGI effects and a new scene where Jabba the Hutt talks to Han Solo — has been available for public showings.
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That’s the only version Lucasfilm has allowed to be shown.
The BFI Film on Film Festival is billed as a celebration of the medium of ‘film’ itself, where every film, without exception, is projected from a print. The festival provides a unique, cinematic experience that enables audiences to enjoy film in all its glory, exploring its aesthetics and celebrating the skills required to work with it.
according to BFI.
The BFI Film on Film Festival is a true showcase for the richness of the BFI National Archive, and the expertise of our curators, archivists and projectionists. Every print in the program is a unique object, with its own life story, and they all bear their scars with pride. They put us at touching distance to the past, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience them all. We’re grateful for the generous support from philanthropic champions who have helped us deliver a rich and exciting program that keeps Film on Film alive.
James Bell, the Senior Curator of Fiction, BFI National Archive and Program Director of the BFI Film on Film Festival, said.
Source: Indiewire