Found Emulsion is a 2022 documentary film directed by Glenn Andreiev (Vampire’s Embrace, Night and Lost Emulsion). Much like the earlier Lost Emulsion (2016), which looked at the lost films of the silent era, Found Emulsion takes a deep dive into  the world  of outsider and cult cinema, eschewing  genre favourites in favour of forgotten cult classics, bizarre oddities and the interesting and unique individuals who are passionately working to ensure that these films have a future.

Found Emulsion is a forty minute documentary that outlines the various processes associated with the  survival and restoration of forgotten or underground movies. Glenn Andreiev’s film looks at the select group of individuals who spend their lives tracking down rare and obscure movies with the hope of preserving and restoring them and ensuring that they survive for future generations to enjoy.

Found Emulsion makes for a really interesting viewing experience. We get a series of stories that tell us about how the films were shot and the sort of film stock on which they were recorded, before delving into how these modern saviours of cinema have been digitising old movies that are only available in old water damaged tape reels. One interesting little fact I picked up on was the name of the American cult movie distributor, Vinegar Syndrome, whose name refers to a chemical reaction that causes cellulose acetate film to deteriorate and emit a vinegar-like odour. Found Emulsion is a reminder of a past age when films were shot and stored on tape. It’s also a bit of a love paen to the huge list of lost movies and TV shows that include episodes of even classic mainstream fare such as Dr Who, of whom there are many missing 1960s episodes after the BBC threw out or reused the original tapes. The conversations are interesting and there is one particular guy who is interviewed for the doc who talks us through some of the interesting items from his personal collection, including Andy Milligan VHS tapes and a host of other interesting oddities.

This DVD from Wild Eye Releasing is pretty bare bones with nothing but Found Emulsion and a trailer reel of other titles released by Wild Eye Releasing, however, this is merely a DVD release for a forty minute short film and if I’m honest we’re lucky to have that.  Anyone with an interest in the restoration and survival of rare and obscure analogue cinema should find plenty to keep them interested here.