Reel Film Day2026 · Date · History
Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak launched Reel Film Day in 2017 around 35mm film, using 3/5 as the date reference to 35mm.
About Reel Film Day
Reel Film Day is a film-format appreciation campaign tied to March 5, written 3/5 as a reference to 35mm film.
Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak launched the first edition in 2017 with 35mm screenings at Alamo Drafthouse and independent cinemas in the United States.
Why Reel Film Day matters
The campaign celebrates watching and exhibiting motion pictures on 35mm film.
Its date is a deliberate 3/5 wordplay tied to the 35mm format, not a government holiday date.
History of Reel Film Day
Alamo Drafthouse published the creator launch for the first Reel Film Day in February 2017.
The launch identifies Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak as collaborators and March 5, or 3/5, as the date.
The first edition took place on March 5, 2017.
In 2020, the American Genre Film Archive described Reel Film Day as an annual March 5 celebration and announced 35mm screenings at Alamo Drafthouse theaters.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak
Alamo Drafthouse’s official launch video describes Reel Film Day as a collaborative initiative from Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak.
First documented observance
The launch announcement calls the March 5, 2017 event the first-ever Reel Film Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Reel Film Day
How to Observe Reel Film Day
Use March 5 as the documented campaign date.
Attribute the 2017 launch to Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak.
Treat 3/5 as the verified 35mm date rationale.
Do not infer a current exclusive organizer or government status from the original launch.
Reel Film Day Facts
Reel Film Day is tied to March 5.
Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak launched the first edition in 2017.
The 3/5 date references 35mm film.
The American Genre Film Archive described it as an annual celebration in 2020.
No single exclusive current facilitator is identified for the observance in 2026.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Alamo Drafthouse — Reel Film Day launch video (opens in a new tab)
Official Brand Video
American Genre Film Archive (opens in a new tab)
Days Of The Year — Reel Film Day recurrence (opens in a new tab)
Current Observance Reference
Celluloid Junkie launch-release syndication (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Reel Film Day?
5 March The documented recurrence rule is: 5 March..
Does Reel Film Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Reel Film Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / film-format appreciation campaign created by Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Reel Film Day?
The documented basis is: Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak launched Reel Film Day in 2017 around 35mm film, using 3/5 as the date reference to 35mm.. Supporting evidence includes Alamo Drafthouse — Reel Film Day launch video. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Reel Film Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / film-format appreciation campaign created by Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-10.
When is Reel Film Day?
The documented campaign date is March 5.
Why is Reel Film Day on March 5?
The launch uses March 5 as 3/5, a reference to 35mm film.
Who created Reel Film Day?
The 2017 launch identifies it as a collaborative initiative from Alamo Drafthouse and Kodak.
Other observances on March 5
These observances are also listed on March 5, 2027.
Ak Kalpak Day
Kyrgyz government sources say Ak Kalpak Day began as an unofficial observance in 2011 through filmmaker Rysbek Zhabirov’s initiative, received official status through Jogorku Kenesh Resolut…
Arrival of the Gospel / Arrival of the First Missionaries
French Polynesia public-service material lists March 5 “Arrivée de l’évangile” among legal holidays, including the 2026 calendar. Assembly historical material explains that the civic holida…
Custom Chiefs’ Day
Government of Vanuatu
Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day
ISSTD states that Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day occurs annually on March 5 and documents recurring public education programming; ISSTD also explicitly notes that the origin o…
Employee Appreciation Day
Current Recognition Professionals International material confirms the first-Friday-in-March observance; government-hosted workplace-recognition material attributes the 1995 creation to Dr.…
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
A/RES/77/51