Spanish Film Archive
Leocricia Castellanos
The books listed below can be purchased from our North American distributor, Indiana University Press, or directly via the FIAF Secretariat. Note that all prices on this page are quoted without VAT, which will be added if applicable.
The FIAF Disaster Handbook provides a clear guide to making an audio-visual archive as resilient as possible to disasters of any magnitude, from local events such as fires and water leaks, to region-wide catastrophes such as severe storms and earthquakes, and covers both physical and cyber security. It shows how beneficial disaster preparedness is to an organisation, improving collection care, increasing staff engagement, and leading to better involvement from managers.
The goal of Share that Knowledge! was to find better strategies for sharing knowledge within our profession of audiovisual preservation. The final publication, a "road map", focuses on finding the right methods for transferring knowledge and skills that are at risk of being lost (organizational, technical, preservation, and collection knowledge), the situations and scenarios that need our attention when it comes to knowledge transfer (starting a job, leaving a job, during daily work, and when knowledge has left), as well as successful practices that we found in the examples of the colleagues we interviewed. The book is now available both as a free PDF file and in a limited print version.
Tales from the Vaults: Film Technology over the Years and across Continents collects 100 stories of boundless creativity and ingenuity. Submitted by the archives and film preservationists who now care for this long-neglected heritage alongside historians, these tales cover a wide range of pre-cinema, cinema, video, and digital devices developed since the 18th century, and used all around the world by filmmakers, showmen and women, hobbyists, and archivists.
To order any of the books below, go to the book order form. Please note that some of these books are out of print, and are indicated in the list as "no longer available". The majority of these can be downloaded as PDF files for free.
>> View FE collections on EFG Filmoteca Espaola is the Spanish national film archive under the direction of the Instituto de la Cinematografa y de las Artes Visuales (ICAA) of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. The aims and activities of the Filmoteca Espaola are:
The Filmoteca Espaola (English: Spanish Film Library) is an official institution of the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Its objective is to restore, investigate and conserve the film heritage of Spain and its diffusion. It is part of the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts.
Its cinema where films are daily shown is Cine Dor (filmed by Pedro Almodvar in Hable con ella), in Santa Isabel Street, Madrid, designed by architect Crspulo Moro Cabeza and built in 1923. It was restored from 1982 to 1990. The archive, offices, library and exhibition halls are set in a restored palace on Magdalena St n 10 in Madrid.
Filmoteca has two other venues, the CCR (Conservation and Restoration Center) in Pozuelo de Alarcn, on the outskirts of Madrid and the administrative headquarters in the Palacio de Perales in the center of the city of Madrid.
The total of existing titles in the archives of the Filmoteca Espaola currently amounts to approximately 36,000. In addition to approximately another 12,000 pre-cataloged titles.Of the 36,000 titles already cataloged, approximately 21,000 are of Spanish production, and the rest are foreigners.
RTVE.ES is opening up a major part of the collection held by the Spanish Film Archive to free browsing by Internet users and researchers. As from Thursday 20 December, access can be gained via the website at www.rtve.es/filmoteca to the history of Spain in pictures. A first and extensive selection of the valuable Spanish collection of historic material is being released on the Corporation's website, thus making it available to the public.
The initiative was presented at Torrespaa on Thursday during an event attended by the State Secretary for Culture, Jos Mara Lassalle; the Director of the Spanish Film Archive, Chema Prado; the Chairman of RTVE, Leopoldo Gonzlez-Echenique; and the Director of Interactive Media at RTVE, Ricardo Villa.
Among the first collections to be made available will be images of the First World War, the arrival of the train at Barcelona station, images of Alfonso XIII, the Spanish historic vanguards, the civil war and social life under Franco. Fiction from the era will also be included, with such films as 'Un perro andaluz' (1929) by Luis Buuel, in its recent restored version; what is widely viewed as the first talking movie of Spanish cinema, 'El misterio de la Puerta del Sol' (1929), by Francisco Elas Riquelme; and historic documents such as 'El orador o la mano' (1928), the wonderful, surreal monologue by Ramn Gmez de la Serna.
This documented history includes such important collections as the images of Alfonso XIII and 'Guerra en imgenes' ['War in Pictures'], a co-production by Spanish Television (TVE) and the Spanish Film Archive with documentaries produced by both sides covering the Spanish Civil War. From among the international collections, it is worth highlighting the inclusion of 'Europa 1914', a partnership project developed by the European film archives to share collections related to the Great War.
It is also possible to consult the complete set of 'No-Do' news broadcasts, from the first broadcast in 1943 right through to its disappearance in May 1981. There are 4,011 news broadcasts in total and more than 700 hours of images that reflect social, cultural and political life under Franco and the Transition. 'No-Do', which was mandatory viewing in cinemas throughout Spain and its colonies for 38 years, was the film archive propaganda machine of General Franco's dictatorship, but also Spain's window on the outside world. Its publication on RTVE.ES constitutes a unique tool for historians, researchers and students, but also for the public in general to raise awareness of the audiovisual history of Spain and the evolution of society.
The work to recover, digitalise and document these Spanish Film Archive collections has been a painstaking and laborious process carried out by professionals from the Documentary Collection of TVE in Prado del Rey. Only five news broadcasts were impossible to recover and even those from which the sound was lost in a fire in August 1945 have been included.
All this work has been carried out in collaboration with the Spanish Film Archive, the historical archives that include the film heritage of Spain and whose mission is to recover, research and conserve film archive heritage and promote awareness of it.
The Interactive Media department of RTVE has created the website, organising it by chronology, week, subject matter or free search. As well as the news broadcasts, users can consult the hand-produced sheets of the Spanish News Broadcasts and Documentaries that were handed over to the audience in the cinema. The website has been designed with a simple browser containing high-quality videos that can be accessed on PC, mobile technology, consoles, tablets and televisions.
The result of this collaboration between public institutions has seen an extension to the offer of cultural content. Furthermore, it universalises the system of access to consultation, study and research and hugely facilitates viewing with high-quality images.
Spanish film archives hold a treasure trove of cinematic history, preserving classic and contemporary films for study and enjoyment. These archives are essential for researchers and enthusiasts, providing access to rare footage, original scripts, and production notes. Institutions like the Filmoteca Espaola play a pivotal role in conserving Spain's rich film heritage for future generations.
Spanish film archives play a crucial role in preserving the rich history of Spanish cinema. They serve as a repository for films, documents, and other related materials, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
Delving deeper, the restoration techniques used in modern archives involve advanced technology. For example, digital restoration can recover deteriorated films, enhancing both visual and sound quality. Such technology helps bring historical films back to their original glory, ensuring they are preserved for future audiences.
Spanish film archives are essential for safeguarding the heritage of Spanish cinema, ensuring films and related materials remain accessible for future generations. They also play a vital role in preserving the cultural, social, and historical context of Spain.
Diving deeper, film preservation methods have evolved significantly. Traditional methods involve storing physical film reels in climate-controlled environments. Advanced techniques, such as digital restoration, are now used to repair and preserve film quality. This involves scanning the original film to a digital format and then correcting any damage frame-by-frame.
'El Espritu de la Colmena' is well known for its beautiful cinematography and deeply symbolic narrative. It vividly captures the innocence and curiosity of childhood amidst the stark realities of rural Spain.
A deeper look into 'Bienvenido, Mister Marshall' reveals its clever use of humour to address serious societal issues. The film dissects the hope and disillusionment of Spanish villagers awaiting American aid in the form of the Marshall Plan. It's a brilliant commentary on cultural expectations and economic realities.
Spanish cinema holds a significant place in global film history, known for its unique storytelling and cultural richness. Delving into the archives reveals a treasure trove of Spanish films, preserving the essence of the country's heritage.
An example of a preserved classic is 'El Espritu de la Colmena'. This film, directed by Vctor Erice, is a beautiful exploration of childhood and post-civil war Spain. Its poetic style and deep symbolism make it a standout in Spanish cinema.
c80f0f1006