About An Archive

2011 , Norwich (Norfolk)

Documentary highlighting the past, present and future of the East Anglian Film Archive.

Mixing archival footage with newly shot interviews and views of the archive at work, the documentary highlights the past, present and future of the East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) and its collections of regional, national and international significance. Narrated by actor Roger Lloyd-Pack, it traces the history of EAFA from its inception under David Cleveland in 1979 as Britain's first regional film archive, its long-standing partnership with the University of East Anglia through to its relocation to purpose-built facilities at The Archive Centre in 2003. The current operations of the archive are explained in depth, including collections management, maintenance of ideal storage facilities, processes of preservation and conservation, and digitization via telecine. A visit by actor Bernard Cribbins, hoping to view an 8mm film he made whilst shooting on location in Africa in the mid-1960s, highlights the importance of regional film archives. And as part of renewed efforts to dramatically improve access to their collections, the archive has undertaken a major inventory and cataloguing project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Involving large scale digitization, the project feeds into a variety of access opportunities from artist-led community projects to selections for EAFA's new website, which offers broader access to digitized content. And although EAFA heads toward an uncertain financial future, the film concludes on an optimistic note, with the University of East Anglia's decision to keep the archive open, keeping the collections together and allowing the East Anglian Film Archive to realise its potential.

Featured Buildings

The Archive Centre, Norwich; University of East Anglia, Norwich

Keywords

Archives; Conservation; Cultural heritage; Film archives; Motion pictures; Preservation; Regional film archives

  • Sponsor : East Anglian Film Archive

  • Sponsor : University Of East Anglia

  • Production company : Fragment Films

  • Producer : Alison Starsmore

  • Director : Alison Starsmore

  • Narrator : Roger Lloyd-Pack

  • Camera : Mark Dodd

  • Sound : Roger Banks

  • Editor : Ray Gotts

  • Sound : Bennet Maples (dubbing mixer)

Manifestations

About An Archive

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