The Nitrate Picture Show 2026

Mark your calendar for the 10th festival June 4–7, 2026. Look for an announcement about the sale date for passes early Fall.

The Nitrate Picture Show, the festival of film conservation, returns for its ninth year. The festival features screenings of vintage nitrate prints from international archives and the Eastman Museum’s own collection and lectures from leading archivists, inviting you to experience the art and science of film preservation, from print conservation to archival projection. Film fans who have attended our festival before will tell you that it's the rare experience of watching original nitrate prints projected in the cinema while surrounded by other enthusiasts that really makes the Nitrate Picture Show unique.

Since the very first edition, which took place in 2015, the titles of the films have only been announced on the first day of the festival, and the last screening has traditionally been a Blind Date with Nitrate, where the title is revealed when the curtain rises and the light from the projector hits the screen.

Also check out other Festivals in Rochester, Entertainment events in Rochester, Arts events in Rochester.