FILM Ferrania
Italian photographic-film manufacturer revived to produce analog still-photography and motion-picture film.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
FILM Ferrania is an Italian photographic-film company based in Ferrania, a hamlet of Cairo Montenotte in Liguria. The modern company was established in 2013 to revive film manufacturing at part of the historic Ferrania site, drawing on former Ferrania equipment, technical documentation, materials, facilities and experienced personnel. Its business is centered on analog photographic film rather than cameras as a standalone hardware category, with products aimed at still photographers and, in the company's earlier plans, cine-film users. The Ferrania industrial tradition reaches back to the explosives manufacturer SIPE, founded in 1882. During the First World War, SIPE expanded its Ferrania plant, and the chemical expertise associated with explosives production helped support the development of photographic materials. In 1917, SIPE created the FILM subsidiary, with participation from the French Pathé brothers; this business became the basis of Ferrania, formally established in 1923. The original company made photographic film, plates, papers and equipment, including cameras. It expanded through the acquisition of Milanese photographic-plate makers Cappelli and Tensi, operating briefly as Cappelli-Ferrania before returning to the Ferrania name in 1938. Ferrania reached its greatest postwar prominence after 1945. Its Ferraniacolor products served the color-film market, while the black-and-white Pancro 30, commonly known as P30, became associated with Italian cinema. The stock was used by filmmakers including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Vittorio De Sica and Federico Fellini. Later ownership brought the business into 3M in 1964, after which it operated as Ferrania 3M. It subsequently became part of 3M's Imation division following a 1996 spin-off, was acquired by Schroder Ventures in 1999, and later became part of the Genoese shipping group Gruppo Messina. The historic operation eventually contracted as consumer photography moved toward digital imaging. Ferrania stopped photographic-film manufacturing by the end of 2009 after color-film production was scheduled to end in late 2008. The site was subsequently shut down, and large-scale layoffs followed in 2012. The 2013 FILM Ferrania venture acquired the former Ferrania Research Laboratory and a narrow-film coating line, together with selected machinery and other assets. It also recruited several former Ferrania technicians. The revived company initially proposed returning historic color products, including a Solaris FG-100 Plus-inspired negative film and a Scotch Chrome 100-inspired color-reversal film. A 2014 Kickstarter campaign raised $322,420 against a $250,000 goal, with promised early test rolls in several photographic and cine formats. Production was delayed by asbestos discoveries and infrastructure problems, and the projected color-reversal and color-negative lines were not brought to market according to the cited historical record. Instead, FILM Ferrania used a black-and-white product to validate restored production equipment. In 2017 it introduced P30 Alpha, an 80 ASA panchromatic film with high silver content and a formulation derived from the historic P30 cinematographic stock. A final P30 version became available to North American customers in 2019. The company later added Orto, a 50 ASA orthochromatic black-and-white film, and P33, a 160 ASA panchromatic film positioned as more flexible than P30. In 2025, the company was reported to have been acquired by Jake Seal, owner of ORWO, with continued production and planned expansion announced. The available reference material does not establish the full current corporate structure, production scale or geographic distribution.
History
Ferrania's industrial origins lie in SIPE, an explosives manufacturer established in 1882. During the First World War, SIPE expanded its operations and established a plant at Ferrania, in the Ligurian municipality of Cairo Montenotte. The chemical processes and materials used in explosives production had useful parallels with photographic-film manufacture. In 1917, SIPE created a subsidiary called FILM, or Fabbrica Italiana Lamine Milano, with the French Pathé brothers as co-owners. This enterprise formed the foundation of the Ferrania photographic business, which was formally established in 1923. The original Ferrania company manufactured photographic films, plates, papers and equipment, including cameras. It expanded its position in the Italian photographic market through acquisitions. In 1932 it acquired Cappelli, a Milanese photographic-plate maker, and temporarily adopted the name Cappelli-Ferrania. It later acquired Tensi, another important Milanese plate producer, before returning to the Ferrania name in 1938. Ferrania's strongest period came after the Second World War, when the growth of consumer photography and cinema increased demand for photographic materials. Ferraniacolor became one of the company's notable color-film products. Its Pancro 30 black-and-white stock, generally called P30, became particularly associated with Italian film production and was used by directors such as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Vittorio De Sica and Federico Fellini. The business later supplied products under several brands and private labels, including Solaris, Dynachrome and Scotch Chrome. Ferrania also remained the last producer of 126 Instamatic film until 2007, after Kodak had discontinued that format in 1999. In 1964, 3M acquired Ferrania, which became known as Ferrania 3M. The company was later spun off into 3M's Imation division in 1996. In 1999, Schroder Ventures acquired the business and subsequently separated it as an independent company. It was later acquired by Gruppo Messina, a Genoese shipping group operating through Ignazio Messina & Co. S.p.A. Under this ownership, the photographic business declined as digital imaging displaced traditional film. In July 2008, company management told unions that color-film production would end in December of that year. Some customer-service communications indicated that limited 135-format color-film production was still continuing in early 2009, but photographic-film manufacturing had ended by the close of 2009. The final building was locked down in 2010. In October 2012, 198 of the 230 employees formerly involved in film manufacture and processing were laid off. The modern FILM Ferrania company was founded in 2013 to restore film production on a limited portion of the historic campus. It acquired the former Ferrania Research Laboratory, a narrow-film coating machine, selected equipment, materials and technical documentation, and hired a number of former Ferrania technicians. The new venture inherited the Ferrania name and sought to adapt its historical identity to the contemporary analog-photography and cine-film markets. The initial product plan focused on color. FILM Ferrania proposed a new version related to the Solaris FG-100 Plus color-negative film and a Scotch Chrome 100-derived color-reversal film, potentially in still-photography and motion-picture formats. In 2014 the company used Kickstarter to raise funds for machinery purchases. The campaign closed at $322,420, exceeding its $250,000 target. Donors were promised early test rolls in 35mm, 120, Super 8 and 16mm formats based on the planned Scotch Chrome revival. The revival encountered significant operational obstacles. Asbestos discoveries and infrastructure problems delayed restoration and production. A revised plan discussed in late 2015 envisaged Scotch Chrome-derived reversal films in several daylight and tungsten speeds, followed by Solaris-derived negative films. The cited historical account states that the proposed color and motion-picture products were not ultimately realized and that later website information no longer referred to them. The company changed its immediate focus to black-and-white film. On February 1, 2017, it presented P30 Alpha, an 80 ASA panchromatic stock with a high silver content and a formula inspired by historic P30 cinematographic film. The product served both as a commercial experiment and as a practical test of the restored equipment. After customer feedback and further development, a final P30 version was announced as available to North American customers in December 2019. FILM Ferrania subsequently expanded its black-and-white range. Orto, announced in April 2023, is a 50 ASA orthochromatic film available for 35mm and 120 photography. P33, announced in February 2024, is a 160 ASA panchromatic film described as more flexible than P30 and offered in 35mm. In April 2025, the company was reported to have been acquired by Jake Seal, the owner of ORWO, with continued production and an intended expansion. The available sources do not provide a complete account of the post-acquisition corporate structure, manufacturing capacity or future product timetable.
- 2025
Reported acquisition by ORWO owner
[1]Jake Seal, owner of ORWO, is reported to have acquired FILM Ferrania and to plan continued production and expansion.
- 2024
P33 is announced
[1]The company announces P33, a 160 ASA panchromatic black-and-white film.
- 2023
Orto is announced
[1]The company announces a 50 ASA orthochromatic black-and-white film.
- 2019
Final P30 reaches North American customers
[1]The final version of P30 is announced as available to customers in North America.
- 2017
P30 Alpha is introduced
[1]FILM Ferrania presents its first black-and-white product, an 80 ASA panchromatic film based on historic P30.
- 2014
Kickstarter campaign closes above target
[1]The machinery-acquisition campaign raises $322,420 against a $250,000 target.
- 2013
FILM Ferrania is founded
[1]The revived company acquires part of the former Ferrania research and coating infrastructure and begins planning new analog products.
- 2009
Historic photographic-film manufacturing ends
[1]The original Ferrania operation ceases photographic-film manufacturing by the end of the year.
- 1999
Schroder Ventures acquisition
[1]Schroder Ventures acquires Ferrania and later separates it as an independent company.
- 1996
Transfer to Imation
[1]Ferrania is spun off into 3M's Imation division.
Products and positioning
A specialist analog-film revival brand combining historic Ferrania formulations and identity with small-scale contemporary production for still photography and potential motion-picture applications.
Panchromatic black-and-white photographic film · 2017
Ferrania P30
P30 is FILM Ferrania's best-known current product and a revival of the historic Ferrania P30 concept associated with Italian cinematography. It is an 80 ASA panchromatic black-and-white film with a high silver content, intended to produce strong tonal separation and a distinctive traditional-film look. The Alpha version was first used to test restored equipment and collect user feedback; a final version was later made available to customers. It is offered in 35mm and 120 formats.
Panchromatic black-and-white photographic film · 2024
Ferrania P33
P33 is a 160 ASA panchromatic black-and-white film announced in 2024. It is positioned as a more flexible, faster alternative to P30 for 35mm still photography. The cited material identifies a 35mm 36-exposure format but does not provide a complete technical specification or distribution profile.
Orthochromatic black-and-white photographic film · 2023
Ferrania Orto
Orto is a 50 ASA orthochromatic black-and-white film announced in 2023. Its spectral sensitivity differs from that of panchromatic stocks such as P30 and P33, giving photographers a distinct rendering of colors and tones. The product is identified in 35mm and 120 formats for still photography.
Color photographic film
Ferraniacolor
Ferraniacolor was a historic color-film product of the original Ferrania company during its postwar period. It belongs to the legacy Ferrania portfolio rather than the confirmed current FILM Ferrania product range.
Color photographic film
Solaris
Solaris was one of the color-film brands associated with Ferrania during its later 3M and Imation-era operations. FILM Ferrania announced plans for a Solaris FG-100 Plus-inspired color-negative revival, but the cited account says that the planned color products were not realized.
Color reversal photographic film
Scotch Chrome
Scotch Chrome was a historic Ferrania-associated color-reversal brand. The revived company planned a new Scotch Chrome 100-based line for still and motion-picture formats, including several daylight and tungsten speed variants, but the cited source does not record a completed commercial launch.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014FILM Ferrania Kickstarter equipment campaign
International
FILM Ferrania used Kickstarter to fund the purchase of machinery from the former Ferrania plant and support the restart of film production. The campaign targeted $250,000 and closed at $322,420. Rewards were described as including early test rolls based on the planned Scotch Chrome-derived film in 35mm, 120, Super 8 and 16mm formats.
Outcome. The campaign exceeded its financial target, but subsequent asbestos discoveries and infrastructure problems delayed the production timetable and the promised color-film program.
Brand decisions
2025
Reported acquisition by the owner of ORWOM&ABackground
The revived Ferrania business continued as a specialist analog-film producer while the market remained focused on a smaller number of film manufacturers.
Action taken
Jake Seal, identified as the owner of ORWO, was reported to have acquired FILM Ferrania.
Aftermath
Continued production and a planned expansion were announced, but the available reference does not specify the transaction terms, legal structure or implementation timetable.
2017
Prioritize black-and-white P30 over the planned color revivalProduct launchBackground
The company's first intended product was a color-reversal film, but delays affected the color program and the restored machinery needed a practical production test.
Action taken
FILM Ferrania released P30 Alpha, an 80 ASA panchromatic black-and-white film based on the historic P30 concept, and used customer feedback to refine the product.
Aftermath
P30 became the company's principal confirmed product and was followed by later black-and-white offerings including Orto and P33.
2014
Crowdfund machinery acquisitionOtherBackground
The revived company needed additional equipment to restore manufacturing capability at the former Ferrania site.
Action taken
It launched a Kickstarter campaign with a $250,000 target and offered film-related rewards to supporters.
Aftermath
The campaign raised $322,420, but production remained subject to later site, asbestos and infrastructure delays.
Crowdfunding raised. $250,000 target → $322,420 raised (2014 campaign)
2013
Rebuild a limited film-manufacturing baseStrategyBackground
After the historic Ferrania operation ceased photographic-film production and large-scale layoffs followed, the new company acquired a small portion of the former campus and selected equipment.
Action taken
FILM Ferrania concentrated its revival around the former research laboratory, a narrow-film coater, retained technical knowledge and former Ferrania personnel rather than restoring the entire historic industrial complex.
Aftermath
The approach enabled the company to develop new black-and-white products, although the originally proposed color and motion-picture lines were delayed and, according to the cited account, not realized.
Sources2 sources
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