The new building: a tale of two archives

1
The new building a tale of two archives

• Bounchao Phichit
• Lao National Film Archive and Video Centre

2
The Lao National film Archive and Video Center
(LNFAVC)

• Founded in 1991
• Difficulty lack funding , unexperienced
  archivists, poor film storage and equipment.
• 1995 Improvement of film vaults (Temperature18-
  20C 50-70RH)
• 1998Repatriated 1132 reels of film from Vietnam
• Presently 21 staff
• Key function Preservation , Production and
  dissemination film and video materials
• Current collection 16 000 reels of film
  (16mm,35mm) and 1220videotapes(Video8,VHS,SVHS,Min
  iDV,DVPro)

3
Traditional Cooperation with Vietnam in the past
for cinema

• Helped Lao filmmakers to produce first Lao film
  in 1956.
• Trained Lao filmmakers and film technicians
  during the war time.
• Many produced films in the liberated zone during
  the war time helped by Vietnamese filmmakers
• Equipped film projectors and cameras and related
  equipment to Lao filmmakers in liberated zone
• Preserved Lao films 30 Yrs. Until 1998
• Post- production

4
Implementation of the Project

• 2001 SEAPAVAA Conference in Bangkok discussion
  about the Cooperation Project
• 2002 SEAPAVAA Conference in Vientiane Signed
  MOU.
• Nov. 2003 Governments approved the project worth
  10 bio. dong ( approx. 700,000US)
• 7 April 2004 Opening Ceremony ( started the
  construction)
• Feb. 2005 Completed the building ( 36,5m long and
  12m wide 2 film vaults with 700m3V. T 10C
  and 35RH)
• Presently request the budget to construct the
  outside area as car park and garden)
• One of the best film vaults in ASEAN countries.

5
Conclusion

• Good symbol of the cooperation between two
  archives in SEAPAVAA
• Successful Project
• Meet the requirement for the preservation of film
  heritage in Laos
• Trust of the governments to LNFAVC and VFI for
  supporting the new projects
• Increased visibility of the LNFAVC through
  opening ceremony and physical presence
• We are in the boot of the Government car, not the
  rear vision mirror, but we worked hard to open
  the lid