Iraqi Cinematheque - Preservation and promotion of Iraqi cinematographic archives

Years of crisis in Iraq have caused deep damage to the country, including its infrastructure and historical heritage.

Part of the cinema and media archives has been preserved, albeit under very rudimentary conditions that have accelerated their deterioration. However, these archives represent a heritage of significant historical and symbolic value. Lacking both the expertise in film archive restoration and digitization and the necessary equipment, Iraq faced difficulties to properly manage these resources.

Within the framework of the Iraqi Cinematheque project, Iraqi professionals benefit from capacity building activities in evaluating and inventorying cinematographic archive collections.

INA, the French national Institut for audiovisual, plays a key role in this process through several structured actions:

• The Director of the Leading Committee for the Iraqi Visual Memory undertook a study visit to Paris to meet with INA experts and familiarize with the archive conservation methodology.
• The Project Manager participated in an intensive training program on the diagnosis and inventory of cinematographic archive collections, organized by the INA in Paris.
• An evaluation mission was then conducted in Baghdad by a senior expert, with methodological support from the INA.The diagnosis and inventory of the archives are ongoing in Baghdad.

Among the other activities implemented during the project, equipments, such as inspection tables, have been acquired, and trainees will receive specific training on the diagnosis and inventory of film archives.

A comprehensive report on the state of the archives and recommendations for restoration and digitization will be drafted at the end of the project.

These actions contribute to effective management and sustainable preservation of Iraqi cinematographic archives, while ensuring local skill transfer.

The second phase takes place at INA in Bry-sur-Marne. Over the course of two weeks, the Iraqi trainees deepen their knowledge by working directly with INA experts and handling the necessary equipment to restore and digitize the archives. All stages of the film archive restoration process are covered: cleaning, repairing, digitizing, and digital restoration.

A final report is then written, providing recommendations for continuing the restoration and digitization efforts, ensuring the long-term preservation of the archives.

As part of the project, several events (conferences, debates, workshops) and screenings will be organized to highlight the restoration and digitization work of the archives. The goal is to allow the Iraqi public to rediscover the restored films, while also raising awareness about the importance of preserving archives, which play a crucial role in the national memory.

Screening Iraqi films both within Iraq and beyond its borders also provides an opportunity to showcase the country’s culture on the international stage.