The DGA (Director’s Guild of America) has shared a press release announcing some of the newest films that are being added to the National Film Registry, a collection of movies that have been deemed worthy of being preserved for their historical and cultural impact.
Below is a list of the new films that are being added to the National Film Registry, which includes Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron’s critically acclaimed sequel that saw Arnold Schwarzenegger return as a killer cyborg that doesn’t actually kill anyone, as well as Home Alone, a movie that encouraged kids to put lethal traps around the house:
- A Movie Trip Through Filmland (1921)
- Dinner at Eight (1933)
- Bohulano Family Film Collection (1950s-1970s)
- Helen Keller: In Her Story (1954)
- Lady and the Tramp (1955)
- Edge of the City (1957)
- We’re Alive (1974)
- Cruisin’ J-Town (1975)
- ¡Alambrista! (1977)
- Passing Through (1977)
- Fame (1980)
- Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- The Lighted Field (1987)
- Matewan (1987)
- Home Alone (1990)
- Queen of Diamonds (1991)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- The Wedding Banquet (1993)
- Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994)
- Apollo 13 (1995)
- Bamboozled (2000)
- Love & Basketball (2000)
- 12 Years a Slave (2013)
- 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
“Films have become absolutely central to American culture by helping tell our national story for more than 125 years,” Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, said in a statement.
“We are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage. We’re grateful to the entire film community for collaborating with the Library of Congress to ensure these films are preserved for the future.”
And here’s what the DGA had to add about the National Film Preservation act, noting that nominations for next year are open until August 14, 2024:
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names to the National Film Registry 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. The films must be at least 10 years old. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with the distinguished members of the National Film Preservation Board — which includes on behalf of the DGA, Directors Martin Scorsese as a board member and Christopher Nolan as an alternate — and a cadre of Library specialists. Also considered were 6,875 titles nominated by the public. Nominations for next year will be accepted through Aug. 14, 2024, at loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/nominate/.
Additionally, descriptions for all 25 films can be found on a separate article that the Library of Congress shared, including remarks from directors, such as Ron Howard, who reflected on his 1995 docudrama with Tom Hanks, Apollo 13.
“It’s a very honest, heartfelt reflection of something that was very American, which was the space program in that time and what it meant to the country and to the world,” Howard said of the film.
“[Capt. David Scott, an astronaut who went to the moon] said you have a chance to tell people what it was like within the framework of a narrative that is entertaining. You have the chance to really get it right and let people know what the Apollo era was all about. We took that very seriously,” the director added.