ARTISTS RIGHTS

The Film Foundation stands committed to protecting the rights of filmmakers through the Artists Rights Education and Legal Defense Fund. Every day, decisions are being made to edit, alter, and reformat the films that we love. Despite spending countless hours perfecting every aspect of their movies, it is not the filmmakers who are making these changes, but the copyright holders who distribute them. For decades, TFF has been dedicated to preventing the unethical altering of artists' works and to ensuring that their original vision is honored. 

  • 2019

    The UHD Alliance (UHDA), along with leaders in consumer electronics, the Hollywood studios, and members of the filmmaking community, collaborate on a new viewing mode for watching movies and episodic TV called “Filmmaker Mode™.”

  • 2016

    Filmmaker Reed Morano calls attention to the “smooth motion” default factory setting on televisions that alters film, making everything presented look like it was shot in HD.

  • 2008

    Robert Rosen receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 2007

    The Film Foundation establishes “The Zinnemann Fund” to serve as a resource to fight for artists rights.

  • 2005

    Italian broadcaster Telemontecario is ordered to pay damages and destroy all copies of a colorized version of Fred Zinnemann’s THE SEVENTH CROSS.

     

  • 2004

    Bertrand Tavernier receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

    Martin Scorsese, along with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, send a letter to Sony Pictures regarding DVD releases that alter the original film.

  • 2003

    Curtis Hanson receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 2002

    The Film Foundation consolidates with the Artists Rights Foundation, under the umbrella of the Directors Guild of America.


    The Artists Rights Education and Legal Defense Fund is created as an advisory committee to provide guidance on all issues relating to the protection and expansion of artists rights.

  • 2001

    Martin Scorsese partners with Philips Consumer Electronics to launch an education campaign called “See What You’ve Been Missing,” to provide consumers with a clear understanding of presenting widescreen films in their original aspect ratio. 

  • 2000

    Sydney Pollack receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 1999

    Tim Zinnemann, the son of legendary film director Fred Zinnemann, filed a lawsuit in Rome against the Italian television station Telemontecarlo to stop the broadcasting of a colorized version of his father's film "THE SEVENTH CROSS (pictured)." The suit claimed that the station's colorization of Fred Zinnemann's film violates the directors "moral rights." 

  • 1998

    Tom Cruise receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 1997

    Milos Forman receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights. 


    John Paul Getty receives the Artists Rights Foundation’s first Stewardship Award.

  • 1996

    Martin Scorsese receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 1995

    Steven Spielberg receives the John Huston Award for Artists Rights.

  • 1994

    Director Fred Zinnemann (pictured) receives the first John Huston Award for Artists Rights, given to individuals who are dedicated to protecting the work of film artists from alteration and to ensuring that the artists' visions remain intact for future generations to enjoy. Steven Spielberg presented the inaugural award to Tim Zinnemann, the son of the legendary filmmaker. 

    Martin Scorsese participates in the International Artists Rights Symposium in Los Angeles, CA. 

  • 1993

    ARF establishes the John Huston Award for Artists Rights to be given to individuals who are dedicated to protecting the work of film artists from alteration and to ensuring that the artists' visions remain intact for future generations to enjoy.

  • 1992

    Martin Scorsese, representing the DGA, testifies before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property & Judicial Administration of the Judiciary Committee U.S. House of Representatives against the alteration of films on TV, and in support of consumer labeling. A presentation reel is shown to educate about Pan & Scan vs. Letterboxing for widescreen films.

  • 1991

    The Artists Rights Foundation (ARF), a non-profit entertainment community-based educational organization is founded by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and chaired by Elliot Silverstein (pictured) to bring together the industry's foremost creative leaders to safeguard the rights of artists, protect their works from alteration, and ensure that the artists' visions remains intact for future generations to enjoy. 

    Martin Scorsese joins the ARF board.

  • Filmmaker Mode
  • TCM: Letterbox
  • 1995 Digital Technology Symposium

Glossary of terms

Resources