Preservation of cinematographic heritage and effects of digital technological developments on film preservation

Humans have found ways to express themselves through methods such as writing, painting, and music since the beginning of the irexistence, thus laying the foundations for the future in the light of the past. With the discovery of moving images, it has been realized that this provides a more effective way of transferring knowledge and experience. Cinema, initially regarded solely as a form of entertainment when it was first discovered, is a form of art that carries documentary qualities. Films reflect the cultural characteristics, economic structure, and sociological makeup of the time they depict. Cinema, incorporatingtraces from literary, dramatic, and visual arts, is highly significant in terms of transferring knowledge to future generations. Since films constitute a significant portion of cultural heritage accumulation, it is imperative to preserve them. Technological innovations directly influence the art of cinema. The technology that governs the cinema industry and the film production process indirectly indicates the need for film preservation. The initial efforts for film preservation emerged with the advent of sound in cinema and the abandonment of silent films. Film preservation initiatives, initially carried out by small groups within the intellectual circles, gained momentum with the establishment of the International Federation of Film Archives, which set scientific standards in the field of preservation. In order to preserve films, compilation efforts need to be carried out as a first step. Countries' film archives acquire films through mandatory (legal) or voluntary compilation methods according to their capabilities and strategies. The films acquired by the archives are examined by experts, and a preservation plan is developed based on the film's characteristics. Necessary procedures are then performed on the film in accordance with the established plan town sure its storage under suitable conditions. Celluloid film, being an organic structure, is susceptible to deterioration due to fact or such as time, storage conditions, and external influences. Handling this material requires expertise and experience. Incorrect interventions on celluloid film can result in irreversible damage to the artwork. This necessitates taking the necessary precautions for the preservation of celluloid film, which constitutes a significant portion of cinema heritage. With the development of digital technology, the work flow in the film industry has undergone a complete transformation. This change has paved the way for the emergence of new methods in film preservation practices. The process of transferring films into a digital format, known as digitization, enables the restoration of works in a computer environment. Once physical restoration procedures are completed, the film is transferred to a digital medium through scanning devices. After the transfer is accomplished, any interventions made on the film can be reversed if necessary. This ensures the proper execution of film restoration practices and eliminates factors that may damage the film's originality. There are also disadvantage stores to ration practices carried out in the digital realm. The possibilities offered by digital technology allow for radical changes to be made to the film. However, while ensuring the repair of the film in restoration practices, preserving its originality is of utmost importance. The task of institutions working in film preservation is touse the opportunities provided by technology while remaining faithful to the original film, ensuring its healthy transmission to future generations. Inaddition, conducting film preservation activities with digital technology can be costly. The continuous advancement of technology necessitates innovations in digitization, computer-based processes, and film storage. Many institutions in the field of film preservation are unable to constantly update their devices, software, and hardware. However, especially with films being stored as digital data files, transferring them to new formats is necessary to ensure accessibility to the works. While the original celluloid films, which are the source material for digitized films, continue to be preserved, films shotand stored directly with digital technology are not as fortunate as celluloid films. This is because celluloid film has been studied, observed, and has a limited lifespan. However, the same level of trust cannot be placed on digital datafiles. The constantly evolving technology necessitates necessary changes, and this transformation should not be limited to devices alone. Experts working in the field of film preservation need to be proficient in both old and new technologies, keep up with advancements, and maintain their eagerness to learn. Unfortunately, the number of experts working in film preservation is significantly low compared to the amount of material that needs to be preserved. One of the most significant challenges in the continuously thriving film industry is the insufficient investment in the field of film preservation. The root cause of this problem lies in the lack of necessary sensitivity towards the importance of preserving films. Strategies determined based on scientific data, the provision of financial resources, and the training of experts with adequate equipment will greatly contribute to resolving the issues encountered in the field of film preservation. KEY WORDS: Cinematographic heritage, preservation, digital technology, deposit, conservation, restoration, availing of.