1903 in film

The year 1903 in film involved many significant events in cinema.

Events

 * Thomas Edison demolishes "America's First Movie Studio", the Black Maria.
 * The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit decides that federal copyright protection for "photographs" extends to motion pictures, and that filmmakers could copyright films as a whole rather than having to separately register each frame.
 * The three elder Warner Bros. begin in the exhibition business and open their first theater, the Cascade.
 * Gaston Méliès, Georges' brother, opens a branch of Star Film in New York to defend its production's copyrights.
 * Adolph Zukor and Marcus Loew partner with Mitchell Mark to expand his chain of movie theaters.
 * William N. Selig's war film A Soldier's Dream is released. The film shows soldiers playing cards and music around a campfire. Scholars have speculated that the double-exposed image used to create one soldier's dream sequence may have been inspired by Méliès.

A

 * Alice in Wonderland, directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, based on the 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll – (GB)
 * The Apparition (Le Revenant), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

C

 * Capital Execution (Henrettelsen), directed by Peter Elfelt – (Denmark)
 * A Chess Dispute, directed by Robert W. Paul – (GB)

D

 * The Damnation of Faust, directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * A Daring Daylight Burglary, by Frank Mottershaw – (GB)
 * Desperate Poaching Affray, directed by William Haggar – (GB)
 * Diving Lucy, produced by Mitchell and Kenyon – (GB)

E

 * Electrocuting an Elephant, directed by Edwin S. Porter – (US)
 * The Enchanted Well (Le Puits fantastique), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * An Extraordinary Cab Accident, directed by Robert W. Paul – (GB)

F

 * Faust and Mephistopheles, directed by Alice Guy – (France)
 * From Show Girl to Burlesque Queen, directed by A. E. Weed – (US)

G

 * The Gay Shoe Clerk, directed by Edwin S. Porter – (US)
 * The Georgetown Loop (Colorado), directed by Billy Bitzer – (US)
 * The Great Train Robbery, directed by Edwin S. Porter, starring Broncho Billy Anderson – (US)

H

 * Hiawatha, the Messiah of the Ojibway (lost), directed by Joe Rosenthal – (Canada)

I

 * The Infernal Cake Walk (Le Cake-Walk infernal), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * The Infernal Cauldron (Le Chaudron infernal), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * The Inn Where No Man Rests (L'Auberge du bon repos), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

K

 * The Kingdom of the Fairies (Le Royaume des fées), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

L

 * Life and Passion of the Christ (Vie et Passion du Christ), directed by Lucien Nonguet and Ferdinand Zecca – (France)
 * Life of an American Fireman, directed by Edwin S. Porter – (US)

M

 * The Magic Lantern (La Lanterne magique), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * Mary Jane's Mishap, directed by George Albert Smith – (GB)
 * The Melomaniac (Le Mélomane), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * A Message from Mars (lost), by Franklyn Barrett – (NZ)
 * Misfortune Never Comes Alone (Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * Momijigari (Viewing Scarlet Maple Leaves), directed by Tsunekichi Shibata, based on the 15th century kabuki play by Kanze Nobumitsu – (Japan)
 * The Monster (Le Monstre), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)
 * The Mysterious Box (La Boîte à malice), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

O

 * Old London Street Scenes, directed by George Albert Smith – (GB)
 * The Oracle of Delphi (L'Oracle de Delphes), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

P

 * Panorama of Beach and Cliff House, produced by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company – (US)
 * Petticoat Lane – (GB)

R

 * Rip Van Winkle, directed by William K. L. Dickson, based on the 1819 short story by Washington Irving – (US)
 * Runaway Match, directed by Alf Collins – (GB)

S

 * The Sick Kitten, directed by George Albert Smith – (GB)
 * Skyscrapers of New York City, from the North River, directed by J.B. Smith – (US)
 * A Spiritualistic Photographer (La Portrait Spirite), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

T

 * The Terrible Turkish Executioner (Le Bourreau turc), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

U

 * Uncle Tom's Cabin, directed by Edwin S. Porter, based on the 1852 novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe – (US)

W

 * What Happened in the Tunnel, directed by Edwin S. Porter – (US)
 * The Witch's Revenge (Le Sorcier), directed by Georges Méliès – (France)

Deaths

 * c. February 15 – Julie Verstraete-Lacquet, Flemish actress, dies at 69

Debut
G. M. Anderson