To mark World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27, established by UNESCO to highlight the importance of audiovisual heritage and the need for its preservation, we present a special screening of Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old, followed by a post-screening discussion.

Produced to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I, They Shall Not Grow Old draws on black-and-white silent footage dating back more than a century, held by the Imperial War Museums (IWM) in the UK. Using a range of digital techniques, including image cleanup, colorization, 3D conversion, and sound design, Jackson vividly brings the soldiers of the time back to life. Combined with veterans’ oral testimonies and immersive soundscapes, these techniques enable contemporary audiences to experience historical footage in a more immediate and engaging way.

The film demonstrates how archival footage can reach new audiences through digital technology, while also raising important questions about the preservation and use of audiovisual heritage. Digitally transforming archival footage can broaden public access and make the past more tangible, but it also raises important questions about the preservation of original materials, authenticity, and the ethics of digital restoration practices. Through this special screening and discussion, we will explore these issues and consider the past, present, and future of digital restoration.