Presented entirely on 35mm film and sourced from the world’s largest collection of motion picture trailers at the Academy Film Archive, this program, curated by Cassie Blake and Tessa Idlewine, interlaces classic coming attractions highlighting the thematic subjects of this year’s Il Cinema Ritrovato with previews of titles representing the festival’s 2026 selection of Recovered and Restored. Existing in a liminal space between practical marketing apparatus and autonomous work of art, trailers are multifaceted in their function: at worst, a blatant misrepresentation or catalyst of spoilers; at best, a film in miniature to be appreciated in its own right. Although theatrical trailers have not always been the staple of the cinematic experience that they are today, it is difficult to imagine a time in which they did not act as a vital liaison between audiences and features. Long after they ceased to trail behind motion pictures, and began instead to precede them, previews have extraordinarily maintained their status as an unrivalled film advertising device. Despite their place in the history of cinema, trailers are often disregarded, both within motion-picture research as well as in the archival world. This vintage compendium of coming attractions of the past several decades celebrates the art of the pre-show. Handpicked to reflect this year’s festival curation, many of these retro coming attractions haven’t been seen since they originally screened in theatres, making it a one-time-only cannot-miss event.

Cassie Blake