Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today the annual selection of 25 films to the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Films are selected based on their cultural, historic and/or aesthetic importance, and must be at least 10 years old. This year’s selections bring the number of films in the registry to 875, and many are among the 2 million films in the Library’s collections. Others are preserved by the copyright holders or other film archives.
“Films are an integral piece of America’s cultural heritage, reflecting stories of our nation for more than 125 years. We are proud to add 25 diverse films to the National Film Registry as we preserve our history through film,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “We’re grateful to the film community for collaborating with the Library of Congress in our goal to preserve the heritage of cinema for generations to come.”
The 2023 National Film Registry showcases a diverse collection of films dating back over 100 years with the 1921 Kodak educational silent, “A Movie Trip Through Filmland” focusing on how film stock is produced and its impact on movies globally. The most recent films added to the registry are 2013’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave” and the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom.”
Films Selected for the 2023 National Film Registry, in chronological order:
• A Movie Trip Through Filmland (1921)
• Dinner at Eight (1933)
• Bohulano Family Film Collection (1950s-1970s)
• Helen Keller: In Her Story (1954)
• Lady and the Tramp (1955)
• Edge of the City (1957)
• We’re Alive (1974)
• Cruisin’ J-Town (1975)
• ¡Alambrista! (1977)
• Passing Through (1977)
• Fame (1980)
• Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
• The Lighted Field (1987)
• Matewan (1987)
• Home Alone (1990)
• Queen of Diamonds (1991)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• The Wedding Banquet (1993)
• Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994)
• Apollo 13 (1995)
• Bamboozled (2000)
• Love & Basketball (2000)
• 12 Years a Slave (2013)
• 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
You can read more about these films in the official announcement, and the Library of Congress will be sharing visuals and details on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook throughout the day @librarycongress and #natfilmregistry.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will screen films from the 2023 National Film Registry on Thursday, December 14, starting at 8 p.m.(ET). Dr. Hayden will join TCM host and National Film Preservation Board chair Jacqueline Stewart to discuss the films.
The Librarian’s selections include recommendations from the National Film Preservation Board and nominations from the public. This year over 6,850 films were suggested for consideration. To nominate for the 2024 Registry visit www.loc.gov/film.
What are your favorite films in this year’s selection? Be sure to share a memory in the comments below.