NOMINATING A FILM TO THE NATIONAL REGISTRY
Of the more than 21,000 feature-length films produced in the United States before 1951, less than half exist today. Seventy-five percent of all silent films no longer exist. To safeguard the country’s film heritage, the United States Congress passed the National Film Preservation Act in 1988. This law authorizes the Librarian of Congress to select up to 25 films each year for preservation. In this activity, students join the debate and nominate films of their choice to the National Film Registry. This activity provides an excellent real-world connection between your students and our country’s national library.
