Please visit our Events page to find a HMD event near you. If you can’t find one, consider hosting one yourself! Drop by our FAQ page for more information on what to expect at HMD.
Home Movie Day was started in 2002 by a group of film archivists concerned about what would happen to all the home movies shot on film during the 20th century. They knew many people have boxes full of family memories that they’ve never seen for lack of a projector, or out of fear that the films were too fragile to be viewed. They also knew that many people were having their amateur films transferred to videotape or DVD, with the mistaken idea that their new digital copies would last forever and the “obsolete” films could be discarded. Original films and the equipment required to view them, if cared for properly, can outlast versions on videotape, DVD, or file-based digital media. Not only that, but contrary to the stereotype of the faded, scratched, and shaky home movie image, the original films are often carefully shot in beautiful, vibrant color—which may not be captured fully in a consumer video or digital transfer. And while the tools for digitization and personal digital archiving have greatly improved in the last twenty years, there’s still magic in watching films to the sound of a whirring projector in a dark room with other people.
The first official Home Movie Day took place on August 16, 2003, and has been followed each year with successful events hosted by an increasing number of volunteers. Home Movie Day has grown into a worldwide celebration of not only amateur film, but also home movies on analog or digital videotape as well as newer forms of personal documentary and expressive media. Because they are local events, HMD screenings focus on community and personal histories in a meaningful way. Community organizations and culture bearers can share vital context about heritage records with local archivists, who in turn can empower attendees with knowledge about the care, storage, and digitization of their own moving image media.
To participate in Home Movie Day as a volunteer, see Host HMD. We also welcome donations in support of our efforts year-round—please contact us at info@centerforhomemovies.org for information about how you can help! Home Movie Day is coordinated as a project of the Center for Home Movies, a registered 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation.