Stanley's Kubrick's eponymous 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey" is 50 years old this year. To celebrate its golden anniversary, the film is getting a new 70mm print followed by a limited theatrical release.

What's so special?

"2001" is perhaps the archetypal sci-fi film that kicked off the genre's golden era in the 70s and inspired a growing list of future film-makers like Ridley Scott, George Lucas, and more recently, Duncan Jones. Directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968, this masterpiece explores the connection between the dawn of man and a distant future for humanity out there in space.

With the technological leaps forward made in terms of projection and SFX, its disturbing asynchronous soundtrack and epic cinematography, "2001" has reserved its place in cinematic history – and rightly so.

Upon its original release in 1968, the film divided critics and was considered to be either a masterpiece or an epic disaster. Nevertheless, it managed to rack up a few awards including an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and nominations for Best Director and Original Screenplay (shared with Arthur C. Clarke). Anthony Masters was also nominated for Best Art Direction. The film also won four Baftas, for Art Direction, Cinematography, Sound Track and as Best Road Show, and was a nominee in the Best Film category.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is also one of the youngest films on the prestigious Sight and Sound 50 Greatest Films of All Time list.

Cannes

Saturday, May 12 saw Christopher Nolan presenting a 50th-anniversary screening. This new 70mm print is made from the original negatives and it remains as nature intended with no new edits, no digital remastering, or any other modern trickery.

Following Nolan's masterclass on the French Riviera, the film will see a limited theatrical release across cinemas in the US from May 18.

Though this is surprisingly Nolan's first trip to the biggest of film festivals, the film had a massive impact on the director of classics such as "Dunkirk," "Interstellar," and "The Dark Night Rises." In a recent statement, Nolan explains how the film formed one of his earliest memories of the cinema experience.

"The opportunity to be involved in recreating that experience for a new generation, and of introducing our new unrestored 70mm print of Kubrick’s masterpiece in all its analog glory at the Festival de Cannes is an honor and a privilege."

And the announcement has created a storm in the Twitterverse as well.

Will you get to catch this classic film on its 50th anniversary?
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