From April 21-26, the Thai Film Archive will host the FIAF Congress 2024, an annual conference of the International Federation of Film Archives, with more than 200 participants from 80 countries attending. This is the first time Thailand has chosen by FIAF to host this important gathering. A FIAF Congress will also take place this year to mark the Thai Film Archive's 40th year anniversary.
"We are honoured that FIAF has entrusted us to host the FIAF Congress, because the founding of the Thai Film Archive was partly supported by FIAF itself," said Chalida Uabumrungjit, director of the Thai Film Archive. "To host the Congress in the year we also celebrate our 40th anniversary shows that the Thai Film Archive has grown to become a part of the world's archival community."
FIAF was founded in 1932 by founders of four film archives in France, Germany, England and the US to promote film preservation efforts and to recognise film as an important recorder of history and human memory and experience. Today, FIAF has 94 full members and 80 affiliated members, comprising of film archives, film institutes and audiovisual preservation bodies. The Thai Film Archive officially joined FIAF in 1986, or two years after its founding.
Every year, members take turns hosting the FIAF Congress. This will be the first time that the Congress will take place in Thailand, and in Asean. To highlight the unique characteristic of Thai cinema, the Thai Film Archive is collaborating with contemporary artist Nakrob Moonmanus to design the Congress poster, a collage piece that synthesises the allure of Thai film posters with contemporary pop-aesthetics.
On April 21, the Congress will begin with the screening of three classic films. Syndromes And A Century, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul from Thailand; Shaihu Umar, a recently rediscovered gem from Nigeria; and Camila, directed by Maria Luisa Bemberg from Argentina. The screenings are open to the public free of charge.
From April 22-23, there will be a FIAF Symposium under the theme "Film Archives In The Global South", where scholars, archivists and curators present their papers to participants to highlight the importance and challenges of film preservation efforts in the less developed parts of the world.
"Our staff at the Thai Film Archive are ready to welcome international participants to the Congress, which we believe will be a driving force in our ongoing preservation efforts," Chalida added.
To reserve tickets for films screening on April 21, visit the Thai Film Archive website at fapot.or.th.
This article was downloaded by calibre from https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/2762959/thai-film-archive-to-host-international-fiaf-congress
Previous | Articles | Sections | Next |