FERRANIA FILM is looking for backers to restart FILM production - Only 28 days left !

[mfunnell]

While I was looking into this, I also kicked a small amount to this (a project the folks at Ferrania pointed towards):

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cinestill/cinestill-medium-format-film

though I'd guess it has less chance of reaching it's funding target.

...Mike

 

[TXForester]

They were out of the $25 pledges, so I went for the $35 pledge which will end up costing me more. Why? The $35 pledge includes a roll of 120 and I have not got around to buying a MF camera. Now what do I want to buy? So many choices. 🙂

 

[Fernando2]

I invite everyone to have a look at this page:

https://fstoppers.com/film/100-more-years-analog-film-film-ferrania-announces-comeback-plan-39197

If you scroll down at about half page, there's the part "An interview with Dave Bias of Film Ferrania", which I found very interesting.
I think Dave Bias addresses many issues raised in this thread.
Example:

"FILM Ferrania will begin by recreating (although not 100% exactly the same) the Scotch Chrome 100 ASA film released by the previous company. Unlike the former company, we will be making this film in 35mm and 120 still formats and Super 8 and 16mm cinema formats. We chose this formula because we have many of the materials already, we have the chemical recipe, and our staff is most familiar with making this film - it's the "low-hanging fruit," so to speak and gets us to market faster than completely reinventing the wheel.
In the future, however, we will be striking out into new territory, and most importantly, responding to the market directly and producing the films that everyone wants (within some limits, of course)"


So, at first (quite logically) they'll offer the last film they produced; but after that, they'll start making new emulsions.


Not only that: they hinted (not in this very interview) that they plan to also offer processing and scanning, that is, an (optional) all-in-one solution for customers all over the world.


Fernando

 

[Spanik]

Ferrania offers exactly what one cant find in the Fujifilm portfolio?

Commitment to film. Fuji is on the record that they want to stop making film. They stopped Provia 400 iso this year and Neopan. They also stopped the GF670. So having a company that cares is good.

I really hope they can establish themselves next to Ilford. Would compliment nicely, one with a large portfolio for b&w, the other colour.

 

[GarageBoy]

Scotchchrome 1600 would be cool

May I ask why it's inconvenient? I find film much more convenient these days that film stores and processing is all available online, pay with PayPal not cheque, scans in Dropbox not a CD.

Taking into account inflation, I think it's probably no more expensive either.

Who does the scans to dropbox?

 

[mfunnell]

Not quite 65% of funding so far, from not quite 3000 backers. Good progress but a ways to go yet.

...Mike

 

[thegman]

Scotchchrome 1600 would be cool



Who does the scans to dropbox?

Hillvale lab, in Melbourne, Australia. Great lab for C41/scans, but no E6 unfortunately.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Lone dissenter?

Lone dissenter?

I would never consider donating money to a for-profit business.
I too love film but there are countless more worthwhile charities.

Chris

 

[mfunnell]

I would never consider donating money to a for-profit business.
I too love film but there are countless more worthwhile charities.

Chris

It's not really a donation (at least not if you select a film-based reward).

1. If they don't make their funding goal, it costs you nothing.
2. If they do make their funding goal, it's the purchase of some perhaps slightly too expensive film (which can be made in their existing facilities).
3. If they make their funding goal and succeed in their project then commercially available film will result.
4. If they make their funding goal but their project fails you'll still have your slide film, which will now have something of a rareity value.

...Mike

 

[Fernando2]

Well put, Mike! 🙂

 

[Mackinaw]

Not quite 65% of funding so far, from not quite 3000 backers. Good progress but a ways to go yet.

65% funding after only four days is extraordinary. From what I’ve read, the great majority of Kickstarter projects become fully funded only during the last few days of the campaign. If their pledges keep on coming, and I suspect they will, Ferrania will easily top their goal of $250,000.

Jim B.

 

[analogangler]

Reversal film for me is like a guilty pleasure, like chocolate, and I'll gladly put some money towards it...

I really like Fuji's film and this is what I know and use the most, but have been growing increasingly nervous about FujiFilm the company...prices do nothing but go up and emulsions keep being cut from the roster. I admit I never used 100/1000 or Astia - but it was nice knowing they were there. Provia 400X and it's predecessor were great, and I still have a few rolls to use...but it'll gone soon. Velvia 100F was a nice blend of fine grain without going quite too far on the saturation for me, I think i have 5 rolls left of 35mm and have used up more of the 120 than I anticipated this summer/fall. Kodak offers nothing to me anymore...Rollei/Maco is the only other option that I've tried recently...still undecided.

So, to hear that there's a group of people out there that share my love and passion for chocolate...er...slide film, and that in exchange for some some cash to work with they'll give me a taste...er...roll...and they plan to keep working to make even more/better/diverse goodies in the future...sign me up!

I also think it's awesome that one of the incentives is a post card that they've all signed.

-AnalogAngler

 

[CliveC]

I don't shoot E6, but I'm pledging for the $35 level to support a worthwhile venture.

 

[mfunnell]

The first 2-3 and last 2 days are (almost) always good for more than 80% of all the money.

Maybe that's so, but a bit of a bump might not hurt...

...Mike

 

[mfunnell]

This needs another bump. The numbers:

3,090 Backers

$167,532
pledged of $250,000 goal

26
days to go


...Mike

 

[Noll]

Just pledged for the 35mm & 120 rolls. First time I've supported a kickstarter, and yes - I have selfish motives for a non-fuji e6 alternative for all the reasons mentioned above and It's great to see all the support so far. I will be shocked If they dont far exceed the goal.

 

[mani]

As someone said over on LUF, all film users should be supporting this project! Regardless of whether one personally likes legacy Ferrania formulas, what we're doing is extending a lifeline for all our film cameras.

Also as a niche manufacturer, they'll be forced to be responsive to their customers' needs.
One very exciting factor, is that if this kickstarter succeeds Ferrania will have one large-scale and one short-run plant - so the potential is there to satisfy the 'mass' market (in the limited sense of today's film users) but also a very niche production of small releases of specialized films. That could be a really cool addition to what's currently available!

 

[Anders O]

I just ordered 2 rolls of 120 film.
Very interesting project, looks like they will reach the goal (250 000$)

Br
Anders

 

[kanzlr]

and I do like old Ferrania Films. Shot a bit of Solaris and while a bit grainy, produces wonderful colors.

 

[italy74]

Hello everyone and thanks for your support.
I hope you can furthermore share this with your friends an in other photo websites/forums / facebook etc because it would be truly a pity if they would miss it. Pledge 1$ less but let 1 more people of this. Italy is plagued with the worst crisis since WWII and every plant restarting means families able to get by and this is so valid for an historical company as Ferrania is. Thank you again