25 apr 2025 mk2, Cannes Set 4K Restoration of Chaplin’s Gold Rush for Anniversary Spotlight

mk2, Cannes Set 4K Restoration of Chaplin’s Gold Rush for Anniversary Spotlight

Visual from the new international poster for Charles Chaplin’s THE GOLD RUSH

mk2 Films is proud to announce a worldwide simultaneous theatrical re-release of Charles Chaplin’s THE GOLD RUSH in a newly restored 4K version, launching on June 26, 2025 — exactly 100 years to the day since its original premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. The Cannes Film Festival will premiere the restored version of the 1925 masterpiece as the pre-opening film of its 78th edition.

“After La Maman et la Putain by Jean Eustache in 2022, and Napoléon by Abel Gance last year, this year’s Cannes Classics will open with none other than the never-before-seen 4K restoration of Charlie Chaplin’s THE GOLD RUSH,” says Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival. “As we celebrate 130 years since the invention of the Lumière brothers’ cinematograph, Chaplin’s much-loved classic—blending adventure, romance and comedy—will mark its centenary with a special premiere on the Croisette!”

Following its Cannes premiere, the newly restored THE GOLD RUSH will be released in cinemas worldwide simultaneously on 26 June. For the first time, an exceptional global rollout will include more than 250 screenings spanning over 70 territories on the same day, in collaboration with a distinguished network of local distributors, including: mk2 (France), Janus Films (USA & UK), Cineteca di Bologna (Italy), A Contracorriente (Spain), StudioCanal (Germany), Budapest Film (Hungary), Mars Production (Turkey), Lev Cinemas (Israel), Kadokawa (Japan), Cinetopia (Spanish-speaking Latam) and Yema Distribution (Sub-Saharan Africa) as well as theatres and cinema networks worldwide, such as: Broadway Cinematheque (via Edko, Hong Kong), New Horizons (Poland), Cine Paris (via Cinobo, Greece) Kino Moscow (Armenia), and, with more to be announced.

To accompany the re-release, a new international poster has been unveiled, presenting a fresh design that honours the timeless image of the Tramp, an icon for both new and longtime audiences.

This historic event marks a global tribute to Chaplin’s legacy, reaffirming the enduring power of The Gold Rush to captivate audiences a century after its debut. “We have been working on Chaplin’s oeuvre for nearly thirty years, with the goal of giving back to each and every film all the beauty originally imagined by its author”, says Gian Luca Farinelli, director of La Cineteca di Bologna. “Each of Chaplin’s feature films has etched itself into the memory, cultural formation, and sentimental education of several generations of people. What more can Chaplin tell us? To answer this question, one must watch his films and realize that contemporary audiences laugh at the very same scenes people laughed at a hundred years ago. The new restoration of THE GOLD RUSH is based on Kevin Brownlow’s research, and, thanks to new technologies and the discovery of new materials, it will bring us even closer to the version first screened on June 26, 1925”. The 4K restoration was made possible by the elements created by Photoplay, for the 1994 restoration produced by Roy Export and by the materials generously made available by BFI National Archive, Blackhawk Films and The Lobster Films Collection, Das Bundesarchiv, Filmoteca de Catalunya, George Eastman Museum, MoMA – Museum of Modern Art.

“We are delighted to see this centennial release made possible through our long-standing collaboration with mk2 Films, Cineteca di Bologna and L’Immagine Ritrovata, ensuring that audiences worldwide can rediscover the film with unparalleled clarity,” says Arnold Lozano, director of Roy Export. “Audiences will experience the film’s rich detail, emotional depth, and its perfect blend of adventure, comedy and romance on the big screen like never before.”

This unique, large-scale operation is part of mk2 Films’ ongoing mission to actively valorise the great films from its collections, through high-profile restorations and original initiatives designed to preserve and share cinema heritage. This landmark release underscores mk2 Films’ long-standing commitment to the legacy of Charles Chaplin, whose films it has proudly represented internationally for many years. With a catalogue of over 1,000 films, spanning from silent-era landmarks to contemporary auteur cinema, mk2 Films stands as a key reference in the field of film heritage and international distribution.

As the world comes together to honour one of cinema’s most cherished films, mk2 Films invites exhibitors, festivals, and audiences to be part of this rare and emotional event. For assets, screening inquiries, and further information, please contact: lea.daudon@mk2.com