Journal of Film Preservation N° 60/61 - FIAF

estoration project we selected 10 titles from different producers,
different storage conditions from different years from the period 1953
– 1979 and of different colour systems. After two years we realized
that each title had problems of its own, not necessarily connected to
producers or storage. The few Agfa colour films from the 50s are
problematic, both prints and negatives are faded beyond
reconstruction – so far. Eastman colour negatives have survived
much better but present other problems like ”pumping”, ”flickering”
at each cut and more. Parts with CRI-negatives also create problems
of their own. We have been quite successful making new negatives
from existing black & white separation positives.
The future
Our intention for the future is to take care of as many negatives as
possible. Examine them, wash them and put them in to our cold
storage. Then we restore them as fast as our 5.000.000 SEK a year
permits. We have so far been able to present 34 Swedish features in
new restored prints.
It must also be pointed out that we work only with Swedish productions.
Our hope for the future is to get extra money to also restore
the black & white productions from the acetate period.
We also hope that the problems with and experiences of colour
restorations locally and internationally will be discussed in
Stockholm 2003 if the General Assembly in London will accept the
Helsinki/Stockholm invitation to host the FIAF Congress that year.
Denmark
Founded in 1941 as the Danish Film Museum and now a part of the
new body, the Danish Film Institute, the Danish film archive is
closing in on its sixtieth anniversary. Since 1964 there has been a
legal deposit for Danish film and related material such as press
material, posters and stills. In the beginning a used print, from 1982
a new print and since 1991 legal deposit has meant a master and a
separate sound track and within two years one or more prints, which
is what we get now. If a film is shot on video we receive a digital
master, and if it is released theatrically we furthermore receive a new
35mm print. With the new film law of 1997 and written agreements
between production companies and the film institute, the institute
has the right to use the deposited prints for cinematheque screenings
and for festivals and film weeks abroad.
Nitrate
Of the Danish silent features we believe to have what has survived,
that is approximately 25% of the total feature film production. But
Danish silent films are still found around the world and the
collection is still expanding, containing about 300 titles, all
transferred to acetate and secured by a master. But many prints are
quite worn and new prints of the titles most in demand have to be
4 Journal of Film Preservation / 60/61 / 2000