National Film Archive of Japan Announcement of “Special Event to Commemorate UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: Unearthed Films – Tomijiro Komiya Collection, Part 2”

[National Film Archive of Japan] Announcement of “Special Event Commemorating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: Unearthed Films – Tomijiro Komiya Collection, Part 2” ​
Agency for Cultural Affairs Press Release: August 28, 2025 [National Film Archive of Japan] Announcement of “Special Event Commemorating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: Unearthed Films – Tomijiro Komiya Collection, Part 2”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-ca1bce454b4d5c8395a92ec4ccf443fd-477×680.jpg

Event flyer image The National Film Archive of Japan (NFAJ) will be holding “Unearthed Films – Tomijiro Komiya Collection, Part 2” on Saturday, October 4th as part of this year’s UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Special Event. The Tomijiro Komiya Collection, donated to our museum in 1990, is a valuable film heritage, containing many of the world’s only surviving or best-known prints, primarily of European silent films, including “Farewell Youth” (1918, A. Genina), “New Year’s Eve Tragedy” (1924, L. Pick), and the dyed version of “The Lighthouse Keeper” (1929, J. Grémillon). Since unveiling over 62 films in the 1991 special screening “Discovered Films – The Tomijiro Komiya Collection,” the collection has been screened around the world. Based on research conducted for “Labyrinth of Images: Tomijiro Komiya Collection,” which was co-hosted with Italy’s Cinema Litrovado Film Festival in 2021, we will be introducing previously unscreened works. Highlights ◇ Sixteen previously unseen works from the Tomijiro Komiya Collection, a world-renowned European silent film heritage, will be screened on 35mm film for the first time. This event will feature a carefully selected selection of unseen prints from the collection, with eight films making their world premiere in Program A, and eight films from Program B, which was co-hosted with Italy’s Cinema Litrobot Film Festival in 2021 as part of “Labyrinth of the Images: Tomijiro Komiya Collection.” Both will be screened in Japan for the first time. ◇Includes 10 35mm prints that are likely the only ones in existence or the best in the world. The 10 films marked with a ★ in the screening list are films whose existence has yet to be confirmed even after research and screenings at the 2021 Cinema Litrovert Film Festival. ◇You can enjoy the works of European silent film stars and directors who are rarely known except through literature. We will be screening works by the following directors and actors who are essential to silent film history. France: [Directors] Michel Carré, Gérard Bourgeois, Ferdinand Zecca, René Leprince, [Actor] Georges Winter Italy: [Directors] Marcel Fabre, Mario Casellini, Augusto Genina, Eduardo Bencivenga, [Actors] Zilleta Morano, Mario Bonnardo, Febo Mari, Marie-Cleo Tarlarini Germany: [Director] Harry Peel, [Actor] Ludwig Trautmann ◇Enjoy the diverse colors of film, including dyes and stencils from European silent films. Of the 16 films being screened, 14 prints utilize the film technology of the time to create a variety of different color expressions for each scene, including dyeing, coloring, toning, and black-and-white.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-1cbe9b00e24beaf94df3f580b2c7b820-640×469.jpg God’s Intercession Stencil
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-50f71bfc0280cccded88ba12ab7ac072-640×474.jpg Cowardly Wolf Dyeing
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-680cc3ff16d3e278aea7b4dbfae39ecb-640×484.jpg The Last of the Frontignacs Dyeing
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-18f206a218abf4f0db31ae72a08270cc-640×469.jpg A magnificent diamond Dyeing ◇A wide variety of films, including trick movies, comedies, action films, and human dramas, will be screened, all with Japanese subtitles and piano accompaniment (accompaniment by Mie Yanagishita). God’s Intercession Magic Movies with Tricks Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-c00b8c2204a6e6863a7ccdac2bead693-640×488.jpg Bear Hunt Early Italian comedy film!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-5eb06f220226aad12a040082e7f33f11-640×466.jpg Brown in the Air A detective action drama that was extremely popular at the time
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-714b41527bf1ad919efc3b09b368adbf-640×489.jpg Suicide club A comedy with a human drama feel ◇Through the screening and viewing of imperfect works derived from existing prints, you can learn about the importance of film preservation.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-4ec87f0400ee6da6b96b438537882886-640×478.jpg Secretist The film was originally over 60 minutes long. Even just watching the remaining 22 minutes, the skillful direction of the various landscapes and human drama makes it a pity that the lost parts were lost.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-076587152900779e7499cd4ab3d524fc-640×483.jpg Back Beyond the Sea (Registered Title) The remaining version is 29 minutes long. It features famous actors and has excellent content and direction, but even Italian film historians have been unable to identify it.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-956ee5dc786824eb8920ee53ad8d7349-640×478.jpg A magnificent diamond This masterpiece by Augusto Genina, one of the greatest directors in the history of Italian silent film, originally ran for about 80 minutes. Even just the first 13 minutes remaining gives you an idea of ​​its grand scale.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/47048/1028/47048-1028-e4204bfc912e4e6bf8b381cb89990fd3-640×488.jpg Atlas The “Atlas” series by M. Guaita, who entered the film industry after working in an acrobat troupe. Even the 15 minutes remaining are captivating, showcasing superhuman feats, but the lack of
documentation makes it difficult to grasp the full story. Screened works (2 programs, total 16 works) [Program A] 13:00-15:00 1. The Cowardly Wolf La louve (1910, France, M. Carré) A. Théssandier, 11 minutes 2. Nick’s Dream Le songe de Nick Winter (1911, France, G. Bourgeoys) G. Winter, 7 minutes 3. The Suicide Club Il bivio della morte (1912, Italy, unknown) G. Morano, M. Bonnard, 23 minutes★ 4. The Plotter La Leçon du gouffre (1913, France, F. Zecca, L. Leprince) L. Alexandre, 22 minutes★ 5. Mother’s Day L’anniversario (1914, Italy, R. Trentino) Luigi Chiesa, 21 minutes★ 6. The Devil’s Eye Das Teufelsauge (1914, Germany, H. Peel) Ludwig Trautmann, 11 minutes★ 7. The Stolen Thief The Biter Bit (1910, France, unknown) T. Sernet, G. Cahuzac, G. Saillard, 9 minutes 8. God’s Intercession Original title unknown (1900, France), 9 minutes★ [Program B] 16:30-18:30 1. The Foolish General Dam-kun Robinet innamorato di una chanteuse (1911, Italy, M. Fabre), M. Fabre, 7 minutes 2. The Last of the Frontignac L’ultimo dei Frontignac (1911, Italy, M. Casellini) M.C. Tarlarini, 10 minutes★ 3. Brown in the Air Schatten der Nacht (1913, Germany, H. Peel) L. Trautmann, 23 minutes 4. Beyond the Sea Again (Registered Title) Original Title Unknown (1913, Italy, Unknown) F. Mari, M.C. Tarlarini, 29 minutes★ 5. The Magnificent Diamond La fuga dei diamanti (1914, Italy, A. Genina) F. Cozzi Kennedy, 13 minutes★ 6. Atlas Atlas. Episode 2: Accusa D’ oltre Tomba (1920, Italy, M. Guaita) M. G. Ausonia, 15 minutes★ 7. Bear Hunt Caccia all’orso (1912, Italy, unknown) D. Silvestri, 7 minutes★ 8. The Shepherd’s Dream Se fossi Re! (1912, Italy, E. Bencivenga) M. Vole Buzzi, 9 minutes Event Overview Project Name: Special Event Commemorating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Discovered Films – Tomijiro Komiya Collection PART 2 English Title: In Celebration of UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Heritage Cinema: Lost and Found From the Collection of Komiya Tomijiro Part 2 Date and Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 [Program A] 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM / [Program B] 16:30-18:30 *Entry is not permitted after the screening begins. Venue: National Film Archive Nagase Memorial Hall OZU Admission: Adults 1,050 yen, High school/university students/those 65 and over 840 yen,
Elementary/junior high school students 600 yen, Persons with a disability certificate (limited to one accompanying person) free, Campus Members (faculty and staff) 500 yen, Campus Members (students) 400 yen Tickets: Online sales will begin at noon on September 9th and end 15 minutes before the start of each screening. *Tickets are available on our website. Tickets are available at the ticket counter (1st floor) from one hour before the start of each screening until five minutes before. Capacity: 299 seats (rotation system for each screening, all seats reserved) Organizer: National Film Archive of Japan Support: Hashimoto Piano Co., Ltd. Website:
https://www.nfaj.go.jp/event/unesco2025/ Inquiries:050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)