Overview

• The British Film Institute (BFI) will open its Film on Film Festival in June 2025 with the first public screening of an original 1977 Technicolor print of 'Star Wars' since 1978.
• This screening was made possible after successful negotiations with Disney and Lucasfilm, who have historically restricted access to the original version in favor of George Lucas's Special Editions.
• The Technicolor print has been preserved for over four decades in a temperature-controlled environment, ensuring its pristine quality for the upcoming screening.
• Fans will experience the film as it was originally released, free from the alterations introduced in later Special Editions, such as CGI modifications and controversial narrative changes.
• The event has reignited discussions about artistic revision versus historical authenticity, with potential implications for broader access to the original cut in the future.