Film History Department together with other departments of the National Film Archive performs main statutory tasks of this institution based on archival science Act valid in the Czech Republic.

 

               

 

 FILM MATERIALS ACQUISITION

Department members take an active role in widening of audiovisual archival materials collections. Based on their decision NFA takes over concrete film material from private persons and institutions in buy-out, gift, assignment or duty of offer form. Other possibility how to enlarge archive collections is an exchange between the National film archive and FIAF
(International federation of film archives) members archives and also own production. 

 

 

FILM MATERIALS PRESERVATION

With new gained film material it is important to decide about its future securing. Based on historians' proposals who take into account historical meaning of material, level of technical damage and financial demandingness of needed works are these films prepared for copying or for other processes needed for their preservation.

For valued film works of Czech cinematography the department proposes and realizes their restoration, during which it often co-operates with colleagues from foreign archives
(see Restoration Work ).

 

 

SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS PROCESSING

Each new work in film collections goes through the cataloguing process during which are basic information added into internal computer database on particular film title (for instance year of production, producers, and locations). Information used direct from the film is enlarged with research of written archival sources stored in other institutions - National Archive, National Library etc.

Obtained findings are often used at reach retrieval activities, when based on business order are production film companies provided with required video materials.

Key result of scientific collection processing is a publication series on Czech feature film
- Czech Feature Film I. - V. , which covered up to now the period from 1898 to 1980.

 

 

COLLECTION UTILISATION

Part of film collections custodians´ activities is also participation of historians at local cinematography presentation in the Czech Republic and abroad in form dramaturgic co-operation and text preparation for film seminars, shows and festivals where NFA takes part or organize them.

Big importance have NFA collections for education at art schools and within the framework of university film studios for which education the NFA loans films for screening if the technical stage of copies allows it.

Important place for presentation of archival collection is archive screening hall Ponrepo (Bio Konvikt). Film historians participate also in preparation of its programme, which includes works of Czech and world cinematography, and in programme brochure edition. Every month there are presented in Ponrepo beside two main film cycles, for instance directors profile and thematic block, also smaller cycles which react to different film anniversaries. The department co-operate for film selection with other cultural institutions and schools.

Other activities in education sphere are tutors introductions for some films in Ponrepo screened and lectures for
Film History Course organized for students from secondary schools.