European Convention for the Protection of The Audiovisual Heritage SECOND MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE Budapest, Hungary, September 24th 2011 On the foundation of the Cinematography Act of the Republic of Croatia (1976) the Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque were established as the National Film Archive in 1979 as the special Department of the Croatian State Archive with the main aims to collect, preserve, process and protect the national film fond. As a associates member, Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque (CC) was accepted, in 1993, into the International association of film archives (FIAF) and since 1997, it is a member of the European association of film archives (ACE). So far, there has been 27.000.000 meters of the film material collected. On the basis of the Law on Archival Institutions and Archival Records from 1997, CC was in constant contact with the most important producing companies in our country and distributors of foreign films. Legal Deposit requirement for national production as well as for foreign films (the best copy of the film) was introduced in the Law on Cinema from 1976. Since year 1981 more then 310 thousand meters of film films dated from 1903 to 1953 have been permanently protected and transferred from flammable on nonflammable film tape. In the same time, by special innovative procedure 35.065 meters (208 titles) of non professional film from period of 1927-1938 was transferred from the format of 9,5 and 8 mm on standard 35 mm tape. To save and in same time prepare for access for general public, Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque since its beginnings, has been producing safety copies of feature - length films (more then 150 titles) and short films (around 700 titles). Films from the collection of the CC are constantly being shown in the Film center Tuškanac (which satisfy special conditions of archival screening - capacity is 272 seats) for students of Film Academy, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Fine Arts, as well as primary and secondary schools. In the past years Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque concentrated on preservation, restoration and reconstruction of feature films, documentary and animated films from the National Film Collection. On our staff, two technicians are constantly checking the original negatives, because more than 70 % of our collection is on acetate base. Because of the fact that the film material was kept in substandard conditions in
producers vaults, film materials of certain titles show degradation of color; they are loosing sharpness and density. Team of experts in the Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque, together with the Film Laboratory team in Jadran film Zagreb, repair, wash, and reconstruct the missing or damaged parts of image and sound. Using the photo-chemical process, to save these materials from 1995 in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque started with The Project of preservation and restoration of the National Film Collection. In the period from 1995 till 2010, through this Project Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque restored more then 100 feature-length films, 140 animated films and 200 documentaries by making of new inter or replica positives, inter or replica negatives, a sound of the negative and new safety copies. Starting in 1997, the Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque has been systematically protecting and restoring audio materials recorded on old media (shellac and decalite vinyl phonographic records). From 2009 onwards, as a result of purchasing new equipment, these audio materials are also transferred to a digital medium (CD), to make them available to users. The Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque and the Croatian Telecom initiated, in cooperation with our partners - film production companies Jadran Film and Croatia Film - THE CROATIAN FILM CLASSICS DIGITALISATION PROJECT under the name MAXtv Digiteka in 2008. The goal is to preserve the Croatian film heritage and make it available to as large a number of users as possible, through the use of modern technologies. Because of unresolved property rights, this project has been temporarily interrupted, but Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque continued with the digital restoration of titles that are in its possession: In 2009 of the first independent DVD edition: Croatian first sound feature film LISINSKI, directed by Octavian Miletić from 1944. This DVD was declared the best edition of 2009 year. In 2010 we continued the Project of digital restoration for its second independent DVD edition : Oktavijan Miletić : AMATEUR FILMS part I. Although OKTAVIJAN MILETIĆ was a pioneer of Croatian cinema in the true sense of the word, and although he was well-known abroad even before World War II and received several noteworthy awards, the general public is still not sufficiently familiar with his early amateur films. This DVD edition is intended precisely for them. In 2011 : DVD edition Zagreb on film 1915-1945- part I All together, autonomously or in collaboration with other partners, Croatian Cinematheque will, by the end of this year, digitally restore and protect 12 featurelength films and 71 short film.
The main goal of this Project is to use digital technology like tool in process of restoration on basis from film to film. It s important to say that our users have access to all this material on different digital and analog carriers, and we hope that soon some of these materials will be accessible through internet. Since we still don t have possibility to present Croatian film heritage through web, I like to say that we are one of contributors in the Project European Film Treasures where you can see some old Croatian films. In house we developed original database, from which some information s are viewable on web site of Croatian State Archive and in archival information system ARHiNET. Next to the film material, the Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque continuously collects Non - Film Holdings: stills, posters, papers, scripts, storyboards and etc. There is also the collection of film techniques that testify of technical and technological level of Croatian cinematography. This collection encloses period from 1893 till 1980, and contains 286 exhibits (film projectors and film cameras). Croatian State Archive in association with Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque publishes books about Croatian cinematography in special edition "Sources for the history of Croatian film and cinematography". Together with the Croatian Society of Film Critics and Croatian Film Clubs' Association, the Croatian film archive - Croatian Cinematheque edited four issues of a film periodical Croatian Cinema Chronicle, every year. MLADEN BURIĆ Head of Video and Sound records Department CROATIAN STATE ARCHIVE CROATIAN CINEMATHEQUE
European Convention for the Protection of the Audiovisual Heritage PRESENTATION OF CROATIAN CINEMATHEQUE Croatian State Archives Mladen Burić SECOND MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE Budapest, Hungary, September 24th 2011
- On the basis of the Cinematography Act of the Republic of Croatia (1976) the Croatian Cinematheque was established in 1979 as National Film Archive (part of Croatian State Archive) with the main goal to collect, preserve, process and protect the national film heritage - Legal Deposit requirement for national production on the basis of the Law on Archival Institutions and Archival Records from 1997 as well as for foreign films (the best copy of the film in distribution) was introduced by the Law on Cinema from 1976 - So far 27.500.000 meters of film materials were collected (about 11.800 titles) Begining
Croatian Cinematheque (CC ) was accepted into the International Association of Film Archives (FIAF) in 1993 as associated member, and it became a full member in 1997. Since 1997 is also a member of the European Association of Film Archives (ACE). Begining
Word of founders
Since 1981: -More than 310.000 meters of film dated from 1903 to 1953 have been permanently protected and transferred from inflammable to safety film tape. -35.065 meters (208 titles) of non-professional film dated from 1927 to 1938 was transferred from amateur film formats (9,5 and 8 mm) on standard 35 mm tape. -As part of the Project of Preservation and Restoration of the National Film Collection more than 100 feature-length films, 140 animated films and 200 documentaries were restored by making a new intermediate preservation elements and new safety copies. Projects
In 1995 Ministry of Culture gave the green light to the Project of Preservation and Restoration of the National Film Collection Project started in 1996 and by now more than 100 feature-length films, 140 animated films and 200 documentaries were restored by making a new intermediate preservation elements and new safety copies. Projects
In the previous years Croatian Cinematheque concentrated on preservation, restoration and reconstruction of feature films, documentaries and animated films that are part of the National Film Collection. The original negatives are monitored and checked constantly since more than 70 % of our collection is on acetate base. Due to the fact that, while being stored by the producers, the film materials were kept in inadequate conditions, certain materials show degradation of color, sharpness and density. Projects
Team of experts from the Croatian Cinematheque together with the Film laboratory team in Jadran film Zagreb, repair, wash and reconstruct the missing or damaged parts of image and sound. As part of the Project of Preservation and Restoration of the National Film Collection from 1995 on, in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Croatian Cinematheque protected and preserved these materials using the photochemical preservation method. Projects
Non-Film Collections: - Stills, posters, documents, scripts, storyboards and etc. - Collection of film equipment that testify of technical and technological level of Croatian cinematography for period from 1893 till 1980, 350 exhibits (film projectors and film cameras). Projects
Audio materials: Since 1997 Croatian Cinematheque has been collecting audio materials Since 2000 is systematically protecting and restoring audio materials recorded on obsolete media (shellac and deccalite vinyl phonographic records) Since 2009 onwards, after acquiring new equipment, these audio materials are also being transferred to a digital medium (CD, digital storage), so to make them available for users. At the moment audio collection has 4.153 phonographic records dating from XX century There is also a collection of sounds and recordings on magnetic tape (more then 500 tapes) Projects
Video collections: more then 4000 VHS cassettes more then 600 U-matic tapes more then 800 betacam SP tapes more then 1200 DVD VHS-C, Super8 video, Digital8, DV, Mini DV...... and are still growing Projects
Publishing: Croatian State Archive - Croatian Cinematheque publishes books on Croatian film history as a part of special edition entitled "Sources for the history of Croatian film and cinematography". Together with the Croatian Society of Film Critics and Croatian Film Clubs' Association, Croatian Cinematheque is collaborating on four editions of film periodical Croatian Cinema Chronicle that are published every year. Projects
Digital restoration: The Croatian Cinematheque and the Croatian Telecom initiated, in cooperation with our partners film production companies Jadran Film and Croatia Film, THE CROATIAN FILM CLASSICS DIGITALISATION PROJECT under the name MAXtv Digiteka in 2008. The goal was to preserve the Croatian film heritage and make it available to a large number of users through the use of modern technologies. Because of unsolved property rights, the project has been temporarily interrupted, but Croatian Cinematheque continued independently with the digital restoration of titles that are in her possession. Projects
The first DVD edition was published in 2009 : the first Croatian feature lenght sound film LISINSKI, directed by Oktavijan Miletić in 1944. This DVD was accredited as the best edition of year 2009. In 2010 we continued with the Project of digital restoration publishing the second DVD edition : Oktavijan Miletić : AMATEUR FILMS part I. In 2011 : DVD edition Zagreb on film 1915-1945- part I All together, autonomously or in collaboration with other partners, Croatian Cinematheque will, by the end of this year, digitally restore and protect 12 feature-length films and 71 short film. Projects
The main goal of the project is to use digital technology strictly as a tool in process of restoration. The final goal is to put the digitally restored material back to the 35 mm film copy as final carrier, therefore the idea is to use digital technology as an outstanding aid in a process that goes from film to film. Projects
Partners in the Project of digital restoration of the Croatian audiovisual heritage: Croatian Audiovisual Centre Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia Jadran film - Zagreb Croatia film Zagreb Institution Zagreb film - Zagreb Croatian Film Clubs' Association - Zagreb Studio Vizije Zagreb Croatian Telecom - Zagreb Hungarian Filmlab Budapest Studio Restart Ljubljana Cinematheque of Macedonia - Skopje Projects
Examples
Since the beginning of her activity Croatian Cinematheque was making safety copies of the Croatian films in order to preserve them and in the same time make them accessible for general public: until today more than 180 feature length titles and around 750 short film titles were preserved. These copies are being shown in the Film center Tuškanac (which satisfies special requirements for archival screening; it has capacity of 272 seats) for students of Film Academy, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Fine Arts and other, as well as primary and secondary schools. Access
We have developed original database for internal use, and some of these information are available for general public on the web site of Croatian State Archive http://www.arhiv.hr/ and in its archival information system ARHiNET. http://arhinet.arhiv.hr Croatian Cinematheque is also participating in different projects such as European Film Treasures http://www.europafilmtreasures.eu/ so to make Croatian film heritage more open to the general public. Access
All collections are available for researchers and students on in-house model with the possibility of transferring films to different formats and also transferring pictures and other material to digital form. Croatian Cinematheque is one of the most important partners when organizing Croatian film retrospectives around the world, together with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia and Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Access
Croatian Cinematheque has 14 employees: 2 managers 2 administrators 2 researchers 3 technician specialists 5 film and video technicians Due to the wide range of work Croatian Cinematheque use services of two independent experts for Audio and Video collections. Staff
Croatian Cinematheque is located in Zagreb, 131 Savska Street, with the offices and the storage space for: film, audio and video materials (410 m2) non- film collections (75 m2) The special storage for original stocks, mostly image and sound negative (240 m2), is situated in Kerestinec, near Zagreb. Both storage facilities are equipped with air conditioners and dehumidifiers which maintain a controlled temperature and humidity. Venue
On 27th January 2011, Croatian Audiovisual Centre presented National Program for the development of the audiovisual industry approved by the Ministry of Culture. It is a strategic document which defines the guidelines for the development of audiovisual sector from 2010-2014, made after numerous investigations and consultations by experts assembled in Croatian Audiovisual Centre. One of the strategic goals of this program is the establishment of Croatian Cinematheque as independent institution. Perspective
Thank you for your attention! kinoteka@arhiv.hr www.arhiv.hr