Explore the fascinating world of lost silent film cinema, and the efforts to rediscover, preserve, and celebrate them.

Lost Emulsion is a captivating deep dive into the mysterious world of vanished cinema--those silent-era films that once defined the birth of motion pictures and have since disappeared into history. Directed by film teacher, scholar, and producer Glenn Andreiev (The Make-Believers, Long Island Joins the Space Race), this thoughtful and meticulously researched documentary explores the cultural and artistic importance of lost films, the reasons behind their disappearance, and the tireless work of archivists and historians dedicated to rediscovering and preserving what remains.

Through illuminating interviews with film historians, collectors, and restoration experts--including Christa Lang, Felix Moeller, Roy Frumkes, Pat Bishow, and David Del Valle--the film examines the fragile nature of film stock, the historical neglect of early cinema, and the bittersweet triumphs of rediscovery. Offering rare glimpses of surviving fragments and stills, Lost Emulsion becomes not just an educational chronicle, but a poetic meditation on memory, decay, and the impermanence of art.

Serving as a companion piece to Andreiev's Found Emulsion, the documentary continues his exploration of cinema's physical and emotional legacy, capturing the urgency and devotion that drive modern preservation efforts. The film also features a wealth of supplemental material, including a director's commentary, bonus interviews, an original trailer, 'A History of Lost Horror Films,' and 'Restoring the King - King of the Kongo.'

An essential viewing experience for film lovers, historians, and archivists, Lost Emulsion stands alongside celebrated preservation documentaries such as The Last Projectionist, Side by Side, The Film Foundation: The Preservation of Cinema, Rewind This!, and A Thousand Cuts. It is a moving tribute to the enduring human desire to rescue and protect the ghosts of cinema's past--before they vanish forever.

Media

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Bonus Materials

• Director's Commentary
• Bonus interviews
• Original trailer
• A History of Lost Horror Films
• Restoring the King - King of the Kongo
• Trailers

 

Cast & Crew

Actors:

•        Christa Lang as Self
•       Felix Moeller as Self
•        Roy Frumkes as Self
•        Pat Bishow as Self
•       David Del Valle as Self

Director: Glenn Andreiev

Additional Details

Label: Wild Eye Releasing

Genre: Documentary

Language: English

Run Time: 120 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 05/26/26

UPC: 760137207856