The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage announced a significant expansion into film preservation on Monday, unveiling an initiative designed to rescue cinematographic materials in three countries facing severe threats to their collections. The program addresses a critical global challenge, as merely one-fifth of the world’s film heritage remains adequately protected.
The new undertaking, introduced at the Lumière Summit in France, identifies pilot projects across Ukraine, Syria, and Indonesia. Ukraine’s Dovzhenko Centre in Kyiv, home to approximately 62,000 films and 300,000 reels, requires emergency assessment and relocation following a June attack. Syria’s National Film Archives faces deteriorated storage infrastructure due to prolonged conflict, while Indonesia’s Sinematek struggles with space limitations and environmental damage threatening its holdings.
ALIPH, a Geneva-based foundation established in 2017 through public-private collaboration, has allocated $500,000 in emergency funding for the current year. The organization aims to secure $15 million through 2032 to sustain these efforts. With past experience managing 640 cultural heritage projects across 65 countries, ALIPH’s venture into film marks its inaugural engagement with the cinema sector.
Beyond the three primary locations, the program is evaluating additional opportunities in Cambodia, Lebanon, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Pacific island nations, signaling broader ambitions for comprehensive global film preservation.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
