MUBI EDITIONS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF ITS LATEST BOOK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LA CINÉMATHÈQUE FRANÇAISE

MUBI, the global film distributor, streaming service and production company, presents The Faust Bible: The Making of F.W. Murnau’s Masterpiece, the upcoming book release from MUBI Editions, presented in partnership with la Cinémathèque française, which will publish globally on 17 October 2026.

Marking 100 years since F.W. Murnau’s towering classic of silent cinema Faust (1926), The Faust Bible brings to light an astounding, recently-unearthed artefact of film history: a visual diary of approximately 400 photographs and original illustrations documenting the making of the film almost step-by-step. Compiled by crew members Robert Herlth, Carl Hoffmann, and Walter Röhrig, and originally presented to Murnau inside a prop Bible, this collection was gifted as a memento on the film’s completion, ahead of the filmmaker’s move from Germany to Hollywood. It was then lost for many years, thought to have been destroyed in the Second World War, before its recent rediscovery and painstaking restoration by la Cinémathèque française, who acquired it for their collection in 2017.

Now published in full for the very first time, The Faust Bible: The Making of F.W. Murnau’s Masterpiece recreates this stunning artefact of cinema history. Through a vast array of stills and sketches, the audacious skill at the heart of Murnau’s production — innovative practical effects, lavish costuming and set design, detailed storyboarding — is showcased, offering an unparalleled window into Faust, Murnau and German productions of the 1920s.

The publication is guided by Laurent Mannoni, Scientific Director of Heritage at la Cinémathèque française, who also contributes a newly commissioned essay and annotations on the remarkable discovery of the Bible and its rare contents. Accompanying him are Stefan Drössler, Director of the Filmmuseum München, writing on the production history of the film, and K.J. Relth-Miller, Director of Film Programs at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, on the film’s lasting legacy in contemporary cinema.

Daniel Kasman, MUBI’s Vice President of Publishing said: ”Preserving and revitalizing film history is at the heart of what we do at MUBI. The discovery of the astonishing Faust ‘Bible’ presents a beautiful opportunity to share this glorious classic of silent cinema with audiences new and old. It offers profound new insight into the mind of one of cinema’s greatest auteurs, revealing the meticulous artistry behind this groundbreaking visual fantasia, created by some of the most talented craftspeople of their day—while standing as a remarkable work of art in its own right. It is a true privilege to partner on this publication with la Cinémathèque française, whose legendary dedication to film programming and archiving serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Laurent Mannoni, Scientific Director of Heritage at la Cinémathèque française, said: “One of the most influential and pioneering filmmakers of the silent era, F.W. Murnau was known for the privacy of his film sets. Reluctant to welcome visitors, he was even less inclined to reveal his creative process. The rediscovery of the Faust ‘Bible’ offers extraordinary insight into the making of one of cinema’s great masterpieces. Published in its entirety for the first time, it allows readers to trace the creation of this legendary film.”

The book will be available to order online on MUBIEDITIONS.COM and in bookshops internationally, distributed by D.A.P / Distributed Art Publishers (USA & Canada) and Thames & Hudson (UK, EU & rest of world).

The Faust Bible: The Making of F.W. Murnau’s Masterpiece is the third book from MUBI Editions. It follows Read Frame Type Film, published in 2025, and The Mastermind, published in 2026