October 11, 2011 — Home movies from bygone eras and formats will be back on the projector Thursday at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the University of Virginia's Mary and David Harrison Institute for American History, Literature and Culture and Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. 

The screening will feature donated films salvaged by area residents from garages and basements, as well as films from the Special Collections inventory. The screening is part of Home Movie Day, an event observed Thursday by more than 50 organizations around the world.

"We're looking for 16-millimeter films, 8-millimeter films and Super 8s, so that would definitely put these films back in time a bit," said Leigh Rockey, a preservation and reformatting specialist in the library.

Anyone with a film that would qualify can drop it off Thursday between 3 and 5 p.m. at the auditorium. The conservator will evaluate the films and possibly show them that night. Organizers will return the films after the show.

Interested participants can also arrange a drop-off appointment by contacting Steven Villereal at steev@virginia.edu or 434-924-1055.
 
In addition to the donated films, Special Collections will also screen movies from the Ralph W. Feil Collection that date to 1939. These color home movies include shots of downtown Charlottesville, the University Corner and an aerial view of the Lawn.

Prior to the screenings, Villereal will talk about caring for home movie collections, and handouts on the subject will be available.

The event is free and open to the public.