Two New FIAF Associates
At its meeting in Brussels on 27-28 November 2023, FIAF's Executive Committee carefully examined the applications for FIAF affiliation submitted by two film heritage institutions in Germany and Turkey, and decided to unanimously admit both as FIAF Associates. These are the FILMMUSEUM POTSDAM - FILMUNIVERSITÄT BABELSBERG KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam, Germany), and the SINEMATEK / SINEMA EVI (Istanbul, Turkey). The representatives of these two new Associates have written the short description of their institution below, which will also be published in the December 2023 issue of the FIAF Bulletin Online. Both these new Associates can now also be found in the Online FIAF Directory.
The number of active FIAF affiliates now stands at a record 174 (94 Members and 80 Associates).
Filmmuseum Potsdam - Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam, Germany)
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The Film Museum Potsdam was founded in 1981 as the GDR-Film-Museum and became an institute of the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF in 2011. It is a full-scale museum with exhibitions, collections, cinema and film/museum education. The museum is a research, presentation and study site: Students as well as the scientific and artistic departments of the Film University are being included into its work. The Film Museum in the city center of Potsdam fulfills the function of a public cultural institution with a permanent exhibition on the historical film site Babelsberg, theme oriented temporary exhibitions and a broad screening and event program.
The collections of the Film Museum are being systematically explored and contextualized. The results are being published in different formats while developing a sustainable strategy for digitization to successively provide access to the film cultural heritage. The newly built collection premises ensure a professional surrounding and optimal working conditions for archival activities, research and education. The building is set right across the street of the Film University and allows close cooperation between students and the archive.
The library of the Film University is responsible for the delivery and education of scientific media for members of the Film University. It holds about 107.000 books and 40.000 bought DVDs and BluRays and recorded TV shows. It maintains all Film University film productions from students and about 4 million press clippings. The library provides education, research and studies with literature and other information carriers and acquires film, TV and media literature in German and a selection of English literature.
The Film University is a place of free research, education and art. Founded in 1954, it is the largest film school in Germany to date with international reputation. It reached university status in 2014 as the first film school in Germany. With its unique interdisciplinary education profile, the successful productions and the innovative research projects, the film university contributes essentially to the future of the moving image. Knowledge and insight, innovative audiovisual formats as well as technologies, ideas and experience are transferred into society. The university’s Film Heritage M.A. relates to the integration of the Film Museum Potsdam, dealing with the global audiovisual heritage and film in particular as key medium of the 20th century.
Dr. Michael Fürst, Director of the Film Museum & Dr. Johanne Hoppe, Scientific Researcher
Sinematek/Sinema Evi (Kadıköy / Istanbul, Turkey)
Sinematek/Sinema Evi is a young cinematheque based in Istanbul. It was founded by and works under the roof of the Kadıköy Municipality since 2018, with the aim of carrying on the legacy of the Turkish Cinematheque Association, the first cinematheque in Turkey which had been closed down by the military coup in 1980 after making significant strides in advancing film literacy and spreading global film culture.
Sinematek/Sinema Evi is designed as a modern cinematheque, placing a strong emphasis on public film screenings with the aim of cultivating an audience with a deeper appreciation of cinema as an art form and an awareness on film heritage. Since 2021, it presents carefully curated repertory film programs accompanied with film-related events, such as exhibitions, lectures, panel discussions, interviews, talks and analyses in its own historical building rebuilt to meet the needs of a modern public film center. Besides the screening hall all other Sinematek/Sinema Evi facilities are open to the public free of charge; the library with a collection of 2300 books and 161 periodicals on cinema, reading rooms, the archives dedicated to all types of film-related printed materials, the exhibition hall, and meeting and event rooms which can be booked for any non-commercial film-related projects and film events.
The current season at Sinematek/Sinema Evi (October 24th 2023-January 21st 2024) features a main selection dedicated to Jean Luc Godard in the 60’s, in collaboration with Institut Français Istanbul. In addition to the main program, six newly restored classics will meet the audience within the second edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato in Istanbul section, in cooperation with Il Cinema Ritrovato Film Festival and Cineteca di Bologna. Silent Thursdays, the regular section dedicated to early cinema with live music, focuses on the fantastic universe of French writer Pierre Loti in his 100th anniversary. Another side section presents a retrospective of Erden Kıral, one of the prominent figures of modern Turkish Cinema. Erden Kıral Retrospective includes A Season in Hakkâri (Hakkâri’de Bir Mevsim, 1982), which is the first restoration project of Sinematek/Sinema Evi, carried out and presented in memory of this brilliant filmmaker who passed away in 2022. As part of its efforts to preserve film heritage, Sinematek/Sinema Evi aims to undertake the restoration of one film each year through collaborations with public and private institutions.
Committed to defending its mission within a culture and art scene that is gradually shrinking due to the challenging economic and political conditions of the country, Sinematek/Sinema Evi highly values and appreciates the trust and support of the FIAF Executive Committee who confirmed its status as a FIAF associate recently. Proud to be a part of this valuable institution, it aims to be an active and dedicated associate that works efficiently for the shared objectives of the Federation.
Senem Erdine, Programming Advisor
