Celluloid Film Futures: How Printmaking Can Provide a Model for the Sustainability of Celluloid Film

Shemilt, Emile

Abstract

This paper examines whether printmaking can serve as a model for the future sustainability of celluloid filmmaking in an era dominated by digital technologies. Once central to moving image art, celluloid film is now facing a crisis of accessibility, affordability, and knowledge preservation. By drawing parallels between the historical trajectory of artist-run film laboratories and the enduring success of printmaking workshops, the paper explores how materiality, community, and interdisciplinary collaboration have played pivotal roles in sustaining traditional artforms. While digital media continues to dominate moving image production, the tactile processes of celluloid film—such as direct manipulation of filmstrips and the experiential qualities of film projection—remain invaluable to artists. The paper argues that, like printmaking, the survival of celluloid film depends not only on access to tools and technology but also on fostering a communal and international exchange of knowledge, ideas, and techniques. It concludes that by integrating traditional and digital methods, emphasising shared creative spaces, and leveraging cross-disciplinary connections, celluloid filmmaking can find renewed relevance and sustainability within the contemporary art landscape.

Citation

Shemilt, E. (2015, September). Celluloid Film Futures: How Printmaking Can Provide a Model for the Sustainability of Celluloid Film. Presented at Impact 9: International Printmaking Conference, Hangzhou, China

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Impact 9: International Printmaking Conference
• Start Date: Sep 22, 2015
• End Date: Sep 26, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015
• Deposit Date: Jan 27, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 446-452
• Book Title: The 9th IMPACT International Printmaking Conference
• ISBN: 9787550309579
• Keywords: art; printmaking; film art; photography; analogue