DATABASE
The Slovene Film Archives or the SFA functions as a unit of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia. It is a member of the FIAF, the International Federation of Film Archives
ESTABLISHMENT AND LEGISLATION
The beginning of the SFA goes back to the year 1966 when the Law on the Archival Material and the ARS defined film material as archival material. Thus, archives became responsible for taking care of preservation.
In 1968, the Association of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia founded the Film Department within the ARS. This decision was due to the nature of the film material, namely the expensive equipment required for the maintenance, and the need for the further education of personnel. The Film Department was put in charge of the storage of Slovene films.
The law passed in 1966 states that all holders must transfer film material 30 years from the time of its creation. The above law concerning films was altered in 1974 and stated that all producers have to transfer one perfect free copy to the ARS six months from the time of film's completion.
However, as the producers still kept the original material, a complete preservation has not been ensured. The 1981 Law of Natural and Cultural Heritage required that the producer had to transfer two perfect copies to the ARS six months from the time of the film's completion, as well as the original material within three years. Finally, the basis for the preservation of all the film material had been ensured.
The new 1997 Law of Film Material and Archives states that edited original picture negatives and sound negatives of films and a copy of each film produced by Slovene producers or produced in co-production between Slovene and foreign producers in Slovenia, are counted as archival film material. According to this law, producers must transfer archival film material to the ARS immediately upon completion of the film. The contract for the transfer of the film material signed between the producer and the Ministry of Culture recognises the expenses of producing the intermediate and film copying.
CATALOGUE AND ACQUISITION OF THE ARCHIVAL FILM MATERIAL
In the period from its founding to the end of 2000, the SFA acquired over 5,300 film titles or 22,000 film rolls dating from 1905 to 2000. It categorised over fifty film creators, who transferred part or all of their film material to the Slovene Film Archive.
A further and costant aim of the SFA is to compile a list of amateur film creators in Slovenia and other filming institutions and companies, as well as to acquire their production.
The SFA also deals with the description of Slovene films in the archives abroad. Some films about Slovenia are kept in Croatian Cinemateque in Zagreb, Yugoslav Cinemateque in Belgrade, Filmarchiv Austria in Vienna, German Film Archive in Berlin (Bundesarchive-Filmarchiv), The Luce institute in Rome, and the War Film Archives of France in Bois d'Arcy. It is presumed that some films interesting for Slovenia are kept in Hungary, France (for the earliest period), Russia (for the period of the World War II) and perhaps also in Great Britain and USA.
In addition to acquiring film material, the SFA also keeps written material of film creators, which explains the shooting processes and the contents of films, i.e., screenplays, shooting scripts, posters, leaflets, stills and records concerning the activities of film companies. THe SFA also has a collection of photographs (containing 335,000 phots) and a collection of video cassettes (450 pieces).
STORAGE OF FILMS
Due to their characteristics, film tapes need special storage conditions. The SFA keeps films in its vaults in Virant Palace in Ljubljana (1 Zvezdarska), and in the underground storehouse in Gotenica. All repositories are air -conditioned and meet the requirements of FIAF.
PROCESSING OF THE FILM MATERIAL
The SFA has a computerised record keeping system and professionally processes archival film material. The following inventories are available:
- Ivan Nemanič, Filmsko gradivo Slovenskega filmskega arhiva pri Arhivu Republike Slovenije, Ljubljana 1998;
- Ivan Nemanič, Filmsko gradivo Arhiva Republike Slovenije 1905-1933, Ljubljana 1998;
- Ivan Nemanič, Filmi Milke in Metoda Badjure 1926-1969, Ljubljana 1994;
- Ivan Nemanič, Filmski zapisi Božidarja Jakca 1929-1955, Ljubljana 1989;
- Tatjana Rezec-Stibilj, Lojz Tršan, Filmsko gradivo Slovenskega filmskega arhiva pri Arhivu Republike Slovenije, Ljubljana 2000.
RENTAL OF FILM MATERIAL
Archival film material is accessible to its users for studying, scientific and research, cultural and educational, and commercial purposes. Archival material should be used according to the Law of the Archival Material and Archives (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 20/97), Subordinate Law on the Conditions for the Use of the Archival Material in the ARS, and special demands of the person(s) who transferred the film for internal projection at the editing table in the ARS, projection in cinemas and for recording. When films are rented to be recorded on a video tape, magnetic tape or optic disc, the SFA signs a contract with the individual user.
COPYRIGHT
According to the Law of Authors' and Similar Rights (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 21/95), the users have to consider moral and material rights, as well as other requirements of the archival film material bearers. The SFA, however is obligated to maintain a register of loans. Users are under the obligation to settle appropriate copyrights fees.
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