Librarian of Congress James H. Billington was recently honored with the 2005 Hollywood Film Preservation Award at a star-studded gala in Los Angeles. The Ninth Annual Hollywood Film Festival honored Billington for his advocacy and leadership in the preservation of the nation’s film heritage.

The Librarian has been a strong supporter of efforts to save the nation’s film legacy. As Paula Wagner, producer of box-office hits such as “Mission Impossible,” and “War of the Worlds,” reminded the audience when she introduced Billington at this year’s event, “More than half the films made in America before 1950 are lost and gone forever. … Fortunately, James Billington and the Library of Congress are ensuring that what we create today will be available for generations to come, and for that, our industry owes a debt of gratitude.”

Every year since 1989, the Librarian has named 25 films to the National Film Registry. Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian names 25 "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant motion pictures to the Registry. The list is designed to reflect the full breadth and diversity of America's film heritage, thus increasing public awareness of the richness of American cinema and the need for its preservation.