The ‘splendour’ of 70 mm film returning to London

The Hyland Theatre is breaking out its old film projectors after requests for screenings using the film instead of digital. Sean Irvine has more.

London, Ont.’s only independent movie theatre is getting another boost from the resurgence of traditional media.

The Hyland is bringing back 70 mm film to the big screen.

On Monday, projectionist Vic Liorentas demonstrated the 60-year-old camera he has restored to show the films.

“I’ve been working on this one for about five years, getting all the parts for it because the parts are what are hardest to find,” he said.

For Liorentas, bringing back 70 mm film is a passion.

“The splendour of 70 mm, as they used to say. Because of the larger frame size, the image on screen is so much brighter, you can put more light into it, without burning the film, and there is just so much detail and resolution,” he explained.

Until the debut of digital, 70 mm was the gold standard.

“Back in the 70s and 80s, it was like IMAX is today. Like it had that status,” Liorentas recalled.

But over time, prints have been lost. Then, just a few years after vinyl records reappeared, theatre audiences suddenly wanted to see classic films the way they were first presented.

“A lot of theatres in Ontario are putting the projectors back in, because there is demand for seeing film,” said Hyland’s co-owner Moira Aldan.

Liorentas added, “There are no video stores anymore, and you have to join 10 streaming services to get the film you want. So, suddenly, it’s like everyone is saying, ‘You know, I’d rather see that on the big screen.’”

The first film will debut at the Hyland in January.

2001 A Space Odyssey, Ben Hur, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Sound of Music are among the prints the theatre hopes to obtain. Kill Bill 1 & 2 is also at the top of the list.

The tally does not include today’s movies. Major film directors are demanding that studios release their projects in 70mm.

That reality is expected to draw more people to the Hyland.

Aldan said it will offer the only 70 mm screen in the region.

“Without having to drive five hours, spend the night in Toronto, and even try to fight for a ticket, right?” she said.

“There are qualities to film that totally blow away digital,” added Liorentas as he encouraged people to see a screening.