Why Gen Z is falling in love with film photography

Armed with rolls of film, some young people are opting out of their algorithmic feeds in favor of experiencing life in ways that feel more deliberate, personal and tangible.

By: Rotem Rozental, University of Southern California, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 29, 2026

Words: 1,267

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Rotem Rozental, University of Southern California

Film photography is experiencing a resurrection, summoned by unlikely conjurers: Gen Z.

It wasn’t too long ago that analog photography – which uses photographic film and chemical processing – was declared all but dead, relegated to the province of niche hobbyists and professional artists.

Digital cameras had taken over nearly all areas of photographic production. Film industry titans like Polaroid and Kodak had …

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