Why young moviegoers are drawn to film screenings

Young audiences are helping drive renewed interest in analog film screenings as cinemas look for ways to bring people back after the pandemic and industry strikes. In Toronto, film fans gathered at TIFF Lightbox for an event focused on film formats and Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie The Odyssey, which was shot entirely on 70mm IMAX film. The article highlights how younger viewers, many of whom grew up with digital technology, are increasingly interested in the texture, detail, and largeformat experience that film can offer. Cinema leaders and film scholars say social media has also made technical formats easier to understand and more appealing to new audiences. For some fans, the draw is not only image quality but also the social experience of watching a movie with others in a theatre. Organizers and exhibitors say that community element, along with the sense of authenticity and craft, is helping sustain demand for film presentations.