Film Atlas
New Interactive Guide to Every Motion Picture Film Format
Film Atlas is a joint initiative by FIAF and the George Eastman Museum, made possible through the support of the Louis B. Mayer Foundation. This expansive online resource combines scholarly essays with high-resolution images to trace the history of film as a physical medium – from the beginnings of cinema to the present day. Developed through international archival collaboration, it serves as a dynamic tool for research, education, and reference, offering a detailed visual overview of every film format, soundtrack system, 3-D technique, and color process ever created.
The website became publicly available in May 2025 and is open for free access. As of June 2025, it includes 129 newly written essays and more than 1,000 illustrations – approximately a quarter of the total planned content. The project aims to cover at least 650 formats and processes over several years, with contributions from around 200 authors across more than 25 countries. Completion is currently projected for 2032.
Film Atlas can be accessed at www.filmatlas.com.
