Plot

GRAIN is a documentary that explores the stories of those committed to using film in modern day photography.

Today, the art world and beyond is obsessed with shooting analog. Whether it's a fashion house seeking to bring a new edge to their creative work, an amateur perusing eBay for the perfect vintage Polaroid, or an influencer attempting to capture a comforting retro aesthetic on social media, analog photography has piqued the interest of people everywhere. Is this resurgence a backlash against digital photography? Is it just a trend perpetuated by our desire for authenticity in an increasingly superficial world? Or is it something else entirely? GRAIN is a documentary by Alex Contell and Tommaso Sacconi that explores the stories of those committed to using film in modern day photography.

Mailing lists, WhatsApp group chats, Google Hangouts, Instagram, Reddit, BandCamp, Spotify, YouTube rabbit holes... We live in a time of hyper-connectivity and hyper-accessibility. The ways in which people are able to connect and explore have never been easier, yet studies show that we have never been less knowledgeable. While the average person spends over six hours a day consuming digital media, attention spans have been reduced to a minimum as people swipe their way through the day. In spite of the increasing rate at which the world turns, there is a growing number of photographers actively choosing to take a step back and consider a more mindful approach to their work. Some would say these photographers are nostalgic hipsters who hate technology and are desperate to differentiate themselves when in reality, they are tech-savvy and very aware of its advantages. Ironically enough, many have built careers primarily through the exposure that only Instagram can afford. Thanks in part to social media, people all over the world, including celebrities, are getting hip to the wonders of analog photography. Whether it's Kendall Jenner showing off her Contax T2 on The Tonight Show or Frank Ocean shooting film at the 2019 Met Gala, analog photography has found its way back into the cultural landscape. The democratizing effect of the internet has catapulted analog photography from the basements of hobbyists and purists to the hands of people everywhere. 1.8 billion photographs are uploaded to the internet every day. Hashtags like #filmisnotdead and #staybrokeshootfilm account for over 50 million Instagram posts to date. While many people have accused Instagram of killing photography via over-saturation, it as undoubtedly served has fuel for an analog renaissance. The choice to use film, both as a way to explore the depths of their subjects as well as their craft, is an active one for today's analog photographer. They are predominantly photographers who were born at a time when the internet and digital cameras were not yet around. A generation built by the nostalgia of printed magazines and family albums in living rooms. In 2012 Kodak declared bankruptcy after struggling to keep up with an industry rapidly adopting digital practices. Today, the company has doubled in value and struggles to keep up with increasing demand for film. While interest in analog photography grows, so does the community of people dedicated to keeping it alive. Community darkrooms, for example, make the physical process of being a photographer accessible as well as the visceral experience of viewing a peer's work in progress. On a larger scale, brands have also taken an interest in analog photography as a means to rectify public backlash against digitally manipulated images. By acknowledging movements such as #NoPhotoshop, brands now encourage and celebrate the wonders of analog. GRAIN documents the processes of photographers who are shooting for major brands, as well as fine artists who require more than what digital can offer. The film takes us into the analog labs, that were once crippled by the pivot to digital, and are now racing to keep up with demand. Through the world of analog photography, we illustrate a movement that is not necessarily anti-digital, but pro-experimentation