Why Watching Film on Film Still Feels Different
Watching a classic film from a restored digital master is not identical to watching a good 35mm print. Both can be valuable, but texture and motion are experienced differently.
BFI has discussed the distinctive grain and mechanical character of film projection. Digital scanning can make grain appear more fixed and sharply defined, while physical film introduces subtle variation.
For that reason, archives preserve not only digital restorations but also film prints and the knowledge required to project them.
Source note: BFI — “Flicker and whir: why screening film on film matters”.