As a seasoned cinephile who’s spent countless hours in the dimly-lit halls of cinemas, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the news of this international collaboration to preserve our cherished celluloid memories. The FISCH project, with its focus on training, restoration, and preservation, is not just about saving films; it’s about preserving stories, cultures, and histories that resonate deeply across borders.
To strengthen international film preservation efforts, India’s Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) is partnering with French diplomatic offices in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives on a two-year initiative known as FISCH (France-India-Sri Lanka Cine Heritage). In simpler terms, they are joining forces to protect films across multiple countries over a span of two years.
This project, which encompasses two years, is backed by both the French Embassy and the French Institute in India, as well as the French Embassies in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Its main objectives involve training, restoring films, preserving them, and reaching a wider audience.
The partnership has kicked off with a film preservation and restoration workshop, which continues till Nov. 14 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, southern India. The workshop, organized with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), is hosting 67 participants for intensive training in film restoration and preservation techniques. The initiative features faculty from prestigious French institutions including Cinémathèque de Toulouse, Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé and Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (INA).
One of the initial actions for this project involves the renovation of the 1978 Sinhala-language coming-of-age film “Gehenu Lamai,” directed by Sumitra Peries and produced by Lester James Peries. Eleven individuals from Sri Lanka will collaborate on this restoration, working together with the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation.
The project encompasses blueprints for an enduring training facility in Mumbai, designed to nurture future generations of movie preservationists by offering yearly educational programs.
Marie-Noëlle Duris, Acting Ambassador at the French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, emphasized the importance of collaboration in safeguarding Sri Lankan cinema, particularly commending “Gehenu Lamai” as a “cinematic treasure.” She stated that this promising project will honor the immense skill of the director, a long-time friend of France, and recognize the priceless impact of Sri Lanka’s cinema on the global stage. Duris also underscored the necessity of preserving this cultural heritage.
As a devoted cinephile, I wholeheartedly echo the sentiments of Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India. The Indian film industry, with its vastness and productivity, stands tall among the global cinematic landscape. It’s essential that we work diligently to conserve, restore, and make accessible films from India and Sri Lanka. By doing so, we safeguard a priceless piece of our global cultural heritage for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, head of FHF, referred to FISCH as a significant global endeavor, emphasizing his personal association with the venture due to his friendship with filmmakers Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries. He also mentioned that Sumitra had shared with him her ideas for films she wished to preserve and restore.
This year, Girish Kasaravalli’s “Ghatashraddha” (1977) and Shyam Benegal’s “Manthan” (1976), both previously recognized, were screened at the Venice and Cannes film festivals respectively. The restorations of these films were carried out by FHF.
In the past, FHF has partnered with Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project to restore two significant Malayalam films directed by Aravindan Govindan: “Kummatty” from 1979 and “Thamp̄” from 1978. The restored version of “Thamp̄” was chosen for the Cannes Classics section in 2022. FHF has also revitalized Aribam Syam Sharma’s Manipuri film “Ishanou,” which was showcased at Cannes Classics in 2023. Currently, FHF is working on restoring more timeless Indian classics such as Ramesh Sippy’s “Sholay” from 1975, Shyam Benegal’s “Manthan” from 1976, and Nirad Mahapatra’s “Maya Miriga” from 1984.
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2024-11-10 06:46