Last Updated 1 day ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 7 / 70mm Film
Definition
70mm film is motion-picture film approximately seventy millimetres wide, most commonly associated with large-format theatrical release prints. The term describes physical film width. It does not identify one universal aspect ratio or prove that the original photography used 65mm negative.
A 70mm presentation can originate from large-format film capture, another film gauge or a digital finishing process. The capture medium, intermediate stages and final projection format should be identified separately when describing how a production was made.
Two Important Presentation Formats
- 5-perf 70mm: A conventional vertical format commonly associated with an approximately 2.20:1 presentation.
- 15-perf IMAX 70mm: A horizontal format with a much larger frame and a different projection system.
- Other release details: Framing, soundtrack and print preparation depend on the particular version being shown.
The difference between five and fifteen perforations is fundamental. A venue equipped for one type of 70mm presentation cannot be assumed to project the other. The gauge alone is insufficient when booking a print or planning a screening.
Advertisement
Relationship to 65mm
Large-format camera photography commonly uses 65mm negative, while the corresponding release print is 70mm wide. The additional print width historically accommodated sound information outside the picture. That is why a film can be described as photographed on 65mm and shown in 70mm without contradiction.
A digital intermediate can be part of the workflow even when the finished presentation uses film. Conversely, a 65mm negative may be scanned and released digitally. Describing the whole chain is more accurate than treating ‘film’ and ‘digital’ as mutually exclusive production categories.
Practical Screening Example
A festival advertising a 70mm screening needs to confirm the print version, projection system, framing and sound requirements with the venue. Substituting a digital file is a different presentation, even if it comes from the same large-format photography.
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 70mm mean the image has a fixed pixel resolution?
No. A film print is not a fixed pixel grid. Source quality, printing and projection affect the visible detail.
Is every IMAX screening a 70mm film screening?
No. IMAX presentations also use digital systems. The exact projection format must be specified if that distinction matters.
Related Terms
Browse all terms starting with 7 or return to the filmmaking dictionary.